Thinking about low carb diets? Wondering if you should try one to lose weight? Or maybe you're just wondering what's the big deal?
Low carbohydrate diets have been around for years, in one form or another. And there are several different types of these diets on the market. But are they effective? Do they work?
First of all - What Are They?
All foods are a mix of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates turn into glucose in your body. You need the hormone insulin to unlock the doors of your cells to let the glucose in.
When insulin is released it also signals your body to store fat. So too many carbs can put your body in a state where it want to store fat - and not burn it.
Protein and fat do not need insulin to get into your cells. When you eat mostly high protein or fat foods instead of carbohydrates, your body starts to burn fat (instead of glucose) for fuel. Your insulin levels fall and your body goes into fat burning mode, instead of fat-storing mode. That's the main reason people lose weight with a low carb diet.
A byproduct of your body's fat burning are substances called ketones - which show up in your blood stream and in your urine. Hence a lower carb diet is also sometimes called a ketogenic diet as well - your body is producing ketones which means it's burning fat.
Low Carb diets are basically diets where you keep your carbohydrate count very low. You may do this by cutting out high carb foods like bread, pasta, muffins, sweets, chocolates and even sometimes higher carb fruits like bananas and pineapples.
Most lower carb diets emphasize lean meats, nuts, seeds, eggs, some dairy, vegetables and low carb fruits like berries.
Different plans can range in how many carbs they allow you to eat in their diet. Popular lower carbohydrate diets include the Atkins diet (very low carb), the ketogenic diet and the South Beach diet. There are other options too like carb-controlled diet food delivery and recipe books that teach you to cook lower carbohydrate meals.
Benefits of Low Carb Plans:
Lower carbohydrate plans can be very helpful for people who haven't had good success on other types of diets. The added protein can help to keep you fuller for longer periods of time and stave off snacking.
These diets can also be very beneficial for diabetics to help them keep their blood sugar levels under control and insulin steady. They can also help pre-diabetics or those with blood sugar problems as it helps to avoid major blood sugar swings.
Drawbacks of Lower Carb Plans:
Some people find that a very low carb diet makes them feel lethargic (our muscles prefer to use glucose for fuel). If that is you, you may want to add a few more slow-acting carbs into your diet like berries, apples, beans or oatmeal.
Also, it can take some preparation to make these meals, which is why some people like to try a low carb diet delivery service when they are starting out.
To summarize, a lower carbohydrate diet can help you lose weight and there are definite benefits to trying it. However just be aware of the drawbacks too. Regardless of what you decide to do, make sure to listen to your body and consult your doctor before making any major changes to your diet.
Kate Fox writes for http://www.Best-Diets-Revealed.com a site rating the most popular diets on the market.
For a list of low carbohydrate diets and their reviews, visit
Best Low Carb Diet
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