Low-Carb Diets, Are They Safe and Effective?

Low Carb diets have received a lot of attention in the past few years yet again, since it became unpopular in the 70s. With millions of book sales and aggressive marketing campaigns, many people turn to these Low Carb diets such as the Atkins diet and the Zone. How can we know if they are safe and effective?

Usually, there are many variations of low carb diets. There are very many different kids of low carbohydrate diet but, quite obviously, one thing that they all insist on in that the user takes in very much less carbohydrate than previously. The main reason that all of these examples are considered low carb diets is that they all have this one characteristic in common.

Eating proteins, including various types of animal fat, is the main principal of this diet. The body goes into a state of ketosis, which causes it to burn stored fat for fuel instead of the carbohydrates. Seems almost too good to be possibly true to just eat more protien, cut the carbohydrates, and you will burn off all the stored body fat. Doesn’t it? It is NOT healthy for the body to go into ketosis as this can cause all sorts of potentially very serious problems like kidney failure or kidney stones.

A lot of these types of diet tend to replace carbohydrates with proteins and fats. Despite differing in their recommendations, it is comforting to know that the low-carb diet is synonymous with both high-fat and moderate protein diets. Next, it is reported that people on this type of diet need to obtain nearly two-thirds of their customary calorie intake from fat. Carbohydrates slthould only count for, at the most, ten percent of their daily calorie consumption; Although sometimes it can be even less than five percent.

You can eat until you are full as long as you consume those items that are on the approved food list, when you are on a low carbohydrate diet. So to mention, some of the allowed foods for low carb diet include meats, fish, poultry, and cheese, which are then coupled with a limited amount of green vegetables. For better results, you must refrain from foods not allowed.

Are low-card diets like the Atkins diet safe and effective? Depending on the actual foods you use in your diet, I believe that low carb diet can be either healthy or unhealthy. There are different definitions of a low carb diet for many people.