Diets Low In Carbohydrates

Low Carb Diets

The aim of the low fat diet is to force the body to use fat as its main source of energy; the body will produce ketone bodies when this happens to fuel parts of the body that cannot use fat as a source of energy such as the red blood cells and the brain.

When these ketones bodies are produced the body goes into a state of what is termed ketosis which produces side effects such as bad breath, nausea and tiredness.

What is a low carbohydrate diet?

Virtually all carbohydrates are cut out from the diet and instead you increase the amount of fat and protein that is consumed. So foods such as bread, pasta, rice and alcohol will be cut from the diet and instead you increase foods such as meat, cheeses and butter.

Do low carbohydrate diets work?

The majority of people who go on low fat diets do see results and often at the beginning weight is lost very quickly, but the bulk of the weight lost is from loss of water and muscle tissue not from fat which is what is needed to keep the weight off.

If you want to lose weight permanently then losing lean muscle tissue is almost like sabotaging your own body.

Muscle tissue burns calories and a decrease in the amount of muscle tissue leads to a decrease in the amount of calories your body needs each day in order to maintain your weight.

What is the attraction to the low carb diet?

The biggest attraction is of course the rapid weight loss at the beginning of the low carb diet, but low carb diets are not really suitable for those wanting to keep losing weight and keep it off.

Many film stars use a low carb diet particularly if they want to drop a dress size quickly for a film but a low carb diet generally isn't beneficial in the long run.

Is a low carb diet a healthy one?

Most definitely not, essential vitamins and nutrients come from a well balanced diet and are needed by our bodies to keep them fit and healthy and a low carb diet isn't a well balanced diet.

Many of the essential nutrients our bodies need come from fruit, grains and vegetables and a low carb diet only allows very small amounts of fruit and vegetables.

Low carb diets are generally very high in fat particularly saturated fat and saturated fat leads to the increased risk of heart disease among other conditions.

The low carb diet contradicts healthy eating guidelines as it is deficient in minerals, vitamins and fibre which are all needed for a healthy body.

Health experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the long term effects following a low carb diet for any length of time can have on the body. They insist that a healthy well balanced diet when combined with a daily exercise plan is still the safest long term solution to losing weight.

Filed under: Low Carb Diets

Diets Low In Carbohydrates

Low Carb Diets

Weight Loss, Slimming & Dieting

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