| It's no wonder that confusion reigns when it comes to | | | | scarce. Many diet studies fail to keep track of the |
| the worth and reliability of low-carb diets after all the | | | | amount of exercise, and therefore caloric use, while |
| conflicting studies and confusing interpretation of the | | | | people in the study are dieting. This helps to explain the |
| information. It seems like debates are popping up | | | | variances between studies. |
| everywhere! | | | | +If you lose weight on a low-carb diet it is a function of |
| No matter if it's Atkins, South Beach or some other | | | | the calorie intake and length of the diet, and not with |
| low-carb plan, there are approximately 30 million | | | | reduced amount of carbohydrates. |
| Americans are on a low-carb diet. | | | | +There is very little evidence on the long-range safety |
| Supporters contend that the large amount of | | | | of low-carb diets. Even though the medical community |
| carbohydrates in our diet has led to increased | | | | has concerns, no short-term bad effects have been |
| problems with obesity, diabetes, and other health | | | | found with cholesterol, glucose, insulin and |
| situations. On the other hand, some attribute obesity | | | | blood-pressure levels among the people in the study |
| and related health problems to over eating of calories | | | | on the diets. Because of the short period of the |
| and lack of physical activity. They also express | | | | studies the adverse effects may not show up. Losing |
| concern that without grains, fruits, and vegetables in | | | | weight typically leads to improvement in these levels, |
| low-carbohydrate diets may lead to deficiencies of | | | | and this may offset an increase caused by a high fat |
| some key nutrients, including vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, | | | | diet. The over-all weight changes for low-carb and |
| and many minerals. | | | | other types of diets are similar. |
| It is already known that any diet, whether high or low in | | | | +Most low-carb diets can cause ketosis. Nausea, |
| carbohydrates, can produce meaningful weight loss | | | | vomiting, abdominal pain, and confusion are some of |
| during the early stages of the diet. Keep in mind, the | | | | the potential consequences. When first starting a |
| key to a diet being successful is in being able to lose | | | | low-carb diet some fatigue and constipation may be |
| the weight on a permanent basis. | | | | met and these symptoms usually disappear quickly. |
| Let's see if we can expose some of the mystery | | | | +Some report that you can have more calories when |
| about low-carb diets. Following, is a listing of some | | | | on a low-carb diet. Remember a calorie is a calorie no |
| related points taken from recent studies and scientific | | | | matter what you intake. When the study is not closely |
| literature. | | | | supervised variations will result by people cheating in |
| Point 1 - Some Differences Between Low-Carb Diets | | | | the study on many factors of the study. |
| There are many famous diets created to lower | | | | There are three important factors I would like to |
| carbohydrate consumption. Lowering total | | | | re-emphasize: |
| carbohydrates in the diet means that protein and fat | | | | 1.- The over-all success rate for low-carb and other |
| will take up a proportionately greater amount of the | | | | types of diets are similar. |
| total caloric intake. | | | | 2.- Small amount of information exists on the long-term |
| Low carbohydrate diet like the Atkins Diet restrict | | | | efficacy and safety of low-carb diets despite their |
| carbohydrate to a point where the body becomes | | | | huge popularity, |
| ketogenic (a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that | | | | 3.- Dieters usually experience boredom with a strict |
| includes normal amounts of protein). Other low-carb | | | | version of the low-carb diet and are not able to stay |
| diets like the Zone and Life Without Bread are less | | | | on diets of low carb food. |
| confined. Some, like Sugar Busters announce only to | | | | After observing the subject, a more severe and |
| eliminate sugars and foods that elevate blood sugar | | | | controlled study are needed on a long-range basis. The |
| levels excessively. | | | | ketosis produced is abnormal and stressful metabolic |
| Point 2 - What We Know about Low-Carb Diets | | | | state. The results may cause more problems than it |
| +Close to all of the studies to date have been small | | | | solved. |
| with a diversity of research objectives. Carbohydrate, | | | | By picking a reliable diet you will benefit over a lifetime |
| caloric intake, diet duration and participant | | | | of proper eating and not a weight loss quickie. An |
| characteristics are wide-ranged greatly. Most of the | | | | excellent rule of thumb is look at the diet long-range |
| studies to date have two things in common, none of | | | | and see if you can see yourself still on that diet after a |
| the research studies had people in the study with a | | | | couple of weeks. However, by following a diet with fat, |
| average age over 53 and none of the controlled | | | | carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients in |
| studies lasted more than 90 days. | | | | moderation may be the best way to go and a little |
| +The results on older adults and long-term results are | | | | more exercise won't hurt either. |