| A low carb diet, as the name implies, is a diet that is | | | | used by cells. |
| low in carbohydrates (bread, rice, sugar, especially | | | | However, insulin also aids in fat deposition and |
| the refined variety) and high (or rather adequate) in | | | | stimulates the brain to produce hunger pangs. The |
| fats and proteins (meat, eggs, cheese, butter, nuts, | | | | vicious cycle of more carbohydrates, more and more |
| etc.). A number of variations of the diet exist (most | | | | insulin repeats, resulting in cells becoming insulin |
| well known, Dr. Atkins Diet), but the one thing that is | | | | resistant with time. Consequently, excess sugar either |
| common to all is the drastic cutback on the intake of | | | | stays in the blood (causing diabetes) or starts |
| carbohydrates in the diet plan. | | | | converting to fat (causing obesity) instead of being |
| Most of these plans substitute the outgoing | | | | used up by cells to produce energy, leading to |
| carbohydrates with fats and proteins. Although | | | | obesity, fatigue and lethargy. |
| different types of these diets may vary in the | | | | Benefits of a low carb diet |
| recommended intake of carbohydrates, fats and | | | | A low carb diet helps prevent hyperinsulinemia (i.e., |
| proteins, as a general rule a low carb diet is | | | | elevated insulin levels in the blood) and increases the |
| tantamount to a high-fat and moderate protein diet. | | | | level of glucagon, a pancreatic hormone that reverses |
| In a low carb diet at least 60 to 70% of the daily | | | | the action of insulin, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and |
| calorie intake must come from fats, contrary to a | | | | helps burn fat to energy and remove cholesterol |
| normal diet where a major portion of the calories | | | | deposits from arteries. |
| comes from carbohydrates. The carbohydrate | | | | And because the body gets into the fat-burning |
| calories should not constitute more than 5 to 10% of | | | | mode, sustained weight and inch loss occurs, |
| the daily calorie intake. The remaining 20 to 30% | | | | accompanied by lowered blood pressure, better lipid |
| calories can come from proteins. | | | | profile and raised energy levels. |
| Why a low carb diet? | | | | Due to the consumption of fats and oils, the appetite |
| How often have you come across overweight people | | | | and hunger pangs stay in control, because fatty |
| feeling frustrated at not being able to lose an inch of | | | | foods are more satisfying and take longer to digest. |
| the stubborn abdominal fat in spite of exercising and | | | | And since limited amounts of complex carbohydrates |
| in spite of being on the traditionally recommended | | | | do accompany the fats (obviously, the healthy |
| low fat, high carb diet for months? Too often to | | | | types), the body metabolism does not switch to |
| even remember! The reason, obviously, has to lie in | | | | starvation mode. A vitamin/mineral supplement and a |
| the wrong approach to attack the problem underlying | | | | fiber supplement may be added if necessary. |
| excess weight and excess inches. | | | | Once the body chemistry is back to normal and the |
| Scientific research has shown that dietary fat is not | | | | excess weight knocked off, complex carbohydrates |
| necessarily converted into body fat, whereas | | | | and some vegetables/fruits can be added to the diet. |
| carbohydrates readily convert into fat by the action | | | | But if one does not want to go back to the earlier |
| of insulin, a hormone produced by pancreas in | | | | state, one has to kiss goodbye the white bread, |
| response to elevated sugar levels in the blood (as | | | | pastries, cakes, ice creams and things like that, |
| caused by carbohydrates) to allow blood sugar to be | | | | except for an occasional binge. |