Significant Elements For Don't Be Confused About Low Carb Diets - 7 Key Points Explained Considered
With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of
information, it's no surprise that confusion reigns when it comes
to the worth and safety of low-carb diets. It looks like heated
debates are raging everywhere!
Whether it's Atkins, the South Beach or several other low-carb plan,
as many as 30 million Americans are following a low-carb diet.
Advocates contend that the high number of carbohydrates in our
diet has led to increasing difficulties with obesity, diabetes, and
other health problems. Critics, on one other hand, attribute
obesity and related health issues to over-consumption of
calories from any source, and lack of physical activity. Critics
also express concern that the lack of grains, fruits, and
vegetables in low-carbohydrate diets can result in deficiencies of
some key nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, and
several minerals.
Any diet, weather low or high in carbohydrate, can produce
significant fat loss during the initial stages of the diet.
But remember, the main element to successful dieting is in having the ability to
lose the weight permanently. Put another way, what does the scale
show a year after going off the diet?
Let's see if we can debunk some of the mystery about low-carb
diets. Below, is a listing of some relevant points taken from
recent studies and scientific literature. Please note there may
be insufficient information available to answer all questions.
- Differences Between Low-Carb Diets
There are numerous popular diets designed to reduce carbohydrate
consumption. Reducing total carbohydrate in the diet means that
protein and fat will represent a proportionately greater amount
of the total caloric intake.
Atkins and Protein Power diets restrict carbohydrate to a point
where your body becomes ketogenic. Other low-carb diets like the
Zone and Life Without Bread are less restrictive. Some, like
Sugar Busters claim to eradicate only sugars and foods that
elevate glucose levels excessively.
- What We Learn about Low-Carb Diets
The vast majority of the studies to date have now been small with a wide
selection of research objectives. Carbohydrate, calorie intake,
diet duration and participant characteristics varied greatly.
All the studies to date have a few things in accordance: None of
the studies had participants with a mean age over 53 and none of
the controlled studies lasted more than 90 days.
Info on older adults and long-term email address details are scarce.
Many diet studies neglect to monitor the total amount of exercise, and
therefore caloric expenditure, while participants are dieting.
This can help to spell out discrepancies between studies.
The fat loss on low-carb diets is a function of caloric
restriction and diet duration, and not with reduced carbohydrate
intake. This finding suggests that if you want to shed weight,
you should eat fewer calories and achieve this over quite a long time period.
Little evidence exists on the long-range safety of low-carb
diets. Inspite of the medical community concerns, no short-term
undesireable effects have now been found on cholesterol, glucose, insulin
and blood-pressure levels among participants on the diets. But,
undesireable effects may not appear because of the short time of
the studies. Researchers note that slimming down typically leads
to a marked improvement in these levels anyway, and this could offset an
increase the result of a high fat diet. The long range weight change
for low-carb and other forms of diets is similar.
Most low-carb diets cause ketosis. A few of the potential
consequences are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and confusion.
During the initial phase of low-carb dieting some fatigue and
constipation might be encountered. Generally, these symptoms
dissipate quickly. Ketosis may also provide the breath a fruity
odor, somewhat like nail-polish remover (acetone).
