Posts Tagged ‘low-carb diet’

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Carbohydrate Values for Commonly Used Spices

June 20th, 2007

CARB COUNTS ON SPICES, 1 TBSP USDA Nutrient Values

A carbohydrate free or low-carb diet involves restricting your intake of carbohydrates, initially to less than 20g per day. The big baddies are “refined” carbohydrates such as white bread, rice and flour. To make up for the carbohydrate deficit, foods high in protein and fat are used as replacements.

Please keep in mind that these counts are based on 1tbsp of spice, which in most cases is far more than would actually be used in most recipes.

Carbohydrate by difference means that they subtract the water, ash, fat and protein–and the rest is legally considered carbs.

ALLSPICE, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 4.327 Total dietary fiber Gms : 1.296

ANISE SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.351 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.978

BASIL, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.743 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.796

BAY LEAF, CRUMBLED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 1.349 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.473

CARDAMON, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.971

CARAWAY SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.343 Total dietary fiber Gms : 2.546

CELERY SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.688 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.767

CHERVIL, DRIED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 0.933 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.215

CHILI POWDER Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 4.099 Total dietary fiber Gms : 2.565

CINNAMON, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 5.430 Total dietary fiber Gms : 3.692

CLOVES, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 4.040 Total dietary fiber Gms : 2.257

CORIANDER LEAF, DRIED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 0.935 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.187

CORIANDER SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.749

CUMIN SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.654 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.630

DILL SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.641 Total dietary fiber Gms : 1.393

DILL WEED, DRIED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 1.730

FENNEL SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.033

FENUGREEK SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 6.477

GARLIC, FRESH RAW Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.778 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.177

GARLIC POWDER Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 6.108 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.160

GINGER, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.822 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.675

MACE, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.677 Total dietary fiber Gms : 1.071

MARJORAM, DRIED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 1.029 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.308

MUSTARD SEED, YELLOW Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.913 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.739

NUTMEG, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.450 Total dietary fiber Gms : 1.456

ONION, DEHYDRATED FLAKES Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 4.164 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.460

ONION POWDER Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 5.243 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.371

ONION, RAW FRESH Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 0.863 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.180

OREGANO, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.899 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.675

PAPRIKA Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.846 Total dietary fiber Gms : 1.442

PARSLEY, DRIED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 0.672 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.134

PEPPER, BLACK Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 4.148 Total dietary fiber Gms : 1.696

PEPPER, RED OR CAYENNE Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.001 Total dietary fiber Gms : 1.325

PEPPER, WHITE Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 4.871

POPPY SEED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.085 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.080

POULTRY SEASONING Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.427 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.418

PUMPKIN PIE SPICE Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.880 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.829

ROSEMARY, DRIED Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.114

SAFFRON Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 1.373 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.082

SAGE, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 1.215 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.360

SAVORY, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 3.024

TARRAGON, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.411 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.355

THYME, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 2.749 Total dietary fiber Gms : 0.800

TURMERIC, GROUND Carbohydrate, by diff. Gms : 4.415 Total dietary fiber Gms : 1.435

About the Author

Joe Johnson is a founding partner with Caroline’s Rub – Fine Spice Creations , where he is in charge of product promotion and development, and where he serves as the executive chef.

Written By: Joe Johnson

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Low Carb Diets on the way out…Taste is Back!!!

May 27th, 2007

To see the low carb diets on the way out is a somewhat reflective process, not that I was an advocate of ketogenic diets at all unless you have Adolescent Epilepsy, but bringing the low carb or ketogenic diet into the forefront of our American Society meant that more people were being educated about obesity, food and eating.

This acknowledgement about food was astounding and became overwhelming , causing restaurant chains and some farmers to really suffer from these trendy diets, people have lost farms that have been in their families for years , businesses that lend job and economic stability to an area, have gone out of business or lost business, all on a dietary whim, with no research done on the side-effects of not eating what these diets restrict.

What side effects? you ask. Okay, so you’ve lost a bunch of weight by eating tons of meat and fat, maybe your cholesterol numbers aren’t out of reach, but, have you had your bowels checked lately? You know, eating that much meat and fat can only do one thing to your intestines and colon, and that’s putrefying products in the bowels. Pretty disgusting, huh?

As you grow older, you lose the ability to digest food like you use to when you were young and had lots of enzymes . Sometimes, that comes from just age, but sometimes it comes from disease and antibiotic use, the point being that, the low carb diet’s started you out on food that you may not be able to absorb anyway so you haven’t been absorbing the vitamins and minerals that your body needs to start, process or finish some important tasks.

So what’s the harm in that, you may say, I’ve lost weight and feel great, and I don’t feel sick. You probably wouldn’t. There are illnesses that you never see coming until it’s to late. One of the leading causes of Colon Cancer, is eating an over abundance of meat and fat, and not having the ability to digest that protein and fat in the system. When enough damage is done, you don’t absorb minerals and vitamins like you are suppose to, and you start to develop other problems, more serious problems, like cancers.

I will have to admit, that the Atkins type diets do advocate not eating the processed and manufactured foods that break down so fast into sugars you can almost hear run into the veins! And that is still true, the human body was designed to do the work of breaking down complex carbohydrates into a more simple usable energy. The break down of a whole grain, fresh vegetable or fruit product also take a certain amount of energy, so not only does your body use energy to break this healthy food down, you also have the benefit of a lot of fiber, which will keep the intestines and colon clean and functioning well.

So, what’s the next trend, I think the next trend is going to be the old fashion weight loss plan. This is a tried and true method of weight loss that anyone can do and it tastes great. This would involve healthy, low or slow absorbing carbohydrates, counting and burning calories, and exercise! A balanced diet, along with knowing how many calories you need to eat per day, to either maintain your weight, or lose weight, and an exercise program to give your bones and muscles a reason to stay strong, not a trendy type diet, but a healthy lifestyle that you can live with for the rest of your life, that still has room for an occasional treat now and then. Low carb is out, the new trend is healthy and better tasting proportions.

D.S. Epperson is the top formulator for Home Blend Gourmet / South Pacific Health, a leader in the functional food industry in the U.S.. With 20 years of experience in Nutritional Biochemistry, she has written reference books on botanicals and manufacturing of medicines from botanicals, and published articles on health, fitness and foods. She has formulated over 240 formulas and inventions for health, the environment and agricultural uses, and continues to research and study microbial advantages in nutraceuticals and functional foods. For more information or to view the articles that she has written: http://www.sugarblend.com.

Written By: D.S. Epperson

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6 Great Ways to Enjoy Your Low Carb Diet

May 23rd, 2007

If there is one low carb diet complaint that we hear over and over again, it’s that a low carb diet is so boring. Sure, they don’t always use those words, but that’s what they mean when they say “there’s not enough variety,” or “it gets so monotonous,” or “there’s nothing to eat.” Luckily for you, these carb complainers are wrong. No one ever said that low carb dieting had to be boring. In fact, low carb dieting is not about restriction, but about enjoying really delicious, really diverse foods.

There are many ways to begin enjoying your low carb diet today! Here are 6 simple ways you can turn your low carb diet into a high taste adventure!

1.Mix It Up

Start thinking outside the “I can’t eat anything” box and start seeing all the things you can eat on a low carb diet. You’d be surprised how many foods open up before your eyes when you stop focusing on what you can’t eat and being looking around at what you can.

2.Get Spicy

If you do nothing else to break your low carb blahs than fill your cupboards with assorted spices and seasonings, you’ll still be thankful. Dress up your low carb foods with fresh herbs and tangy marinades. Add zip and zest with flavorful dressings and mouth-watering marinades. Jazz up your menu with lip-smacking low carb syrups and spicy sauces. The key is taking the bland and making it bold!

3.Go Meatless

Dump the notion that you have to eat meat every day and try a vegetarian dish a few days a week. Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a vegetarian to eat like one. In fact, studies have shown that vegetarians who follow a well-balanced low-carb, low-fat, high-fiber diet often have a lower chance of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and obesity. If that’s not enough convincing, try any of the many meat substitutes in your local store. Whether you’re looking for fish, chicken, steak, or sausages, you’ll find that the meatless version of each often has the same consistency and taste as the original. The beauty of it, of course, is these meat-free dishes are often dramatically lower in fat and calories than the meats they replace. In most cases, the protein count is higher, and the net carbs are very low too!

4.Make It Green and Leafy

Make boring a thing of the past as you fill your repast with green leafy salads topped with all kinds of low carb treats! Turn your side salad into the main dish by adding any of the following in real or veggie versions: chicken, crab meat, shrimp, tuna, or turkey. Color your garden delights with any kind of cheese and top with the perfect crunch of non-starchy vegetables, including alfalfa sprouts, chives, mushrooms, radishes, and snow peas.

5.Have a Snack Attack

When the idea of having a steak for dinner just isn’t enough to get you through the afternoon, it’s time you had a snack attack. Fill up on low carb snacks to give your tummy something to smile about. For something nutty, try small portions of macadamia nuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, or walnuts. For something cheesy, there’s nothing more fun than playing with (and eating) string cheese. Or, for the ultimate treat, make a super smoothie. Make a smoothie by mixing your favorite low carb protein powder in water, or soy milk with your favorite berries and a pinch of Splenda.

6.Low Carb Doesn’t Mean No Carb

When nothing else is helping you get over your low carb blues, remember this: Low carb doesn’t mean no carb. Your job is to rid your diet of refined and processed carbohydrates and replace them with the good stuff: whole grains, vegetables, nuts, and fruits high in nutrients and fiber. When you realize that you don’t have to go carb-free to let go of the pounds, you’ll stop waiting and begin enjoying all the foods that are available to you on your low carb diet!

About the Author

Sylvie Charrier is the author of the revolutionary new book “Living La Vida Low Carb: The Vegetarian Way”. As a busy work-at-home mom, she discovered simple ways to get more results from her low carb diet. She shares her recipe makeovers and health tips on her website http://www.VegetarianLowCarb.com/Enjoy-Your-Low-Carb-Diet.html

Written By: Sylvie Charrier

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Low Carb Diet Pills

May 19th, 2007

Low Carb Diet Pills – A Low Carber’s Dream, or a Misleading Marketing Ploy?

Low carb diet pills have become more popular and more manufactured as the popularity of carb-aware diets grows. Some may think the whole carb craze is over – but boy are they wrong! It’s not over, and won’t ever be over because of one simple fact – it works! Yes, carb-smart diets, as they have been dubbed by the media, are the lifelong way to keep the pounds off, keep your heart, body and mind healthy, and live longer. This seems to be irrefutable.

So, do carb blockers and low carb dieter’s diet pills and products really help to inhibit the absorption of excess carbohydrates when we overindulge and go over to the “carb side”?

Low carb diet products, from specialty foods to supplements, despite some skepticism and scoffing, are still very much a way of life for thousands who swear by the power of low carb intake as a means of losing large amounts of weight, and more importantly, as way of life to maintain a healthy weight as well as maintain healthy body functions such as heart and digestive health.

The argument over low carb diets benefits seems to stem from the first big fad for low carbers, the Atkins diet, which advocated some big “no no” foods such as bacon and eggs, which are loaded with unhealthy cholesterol, salts and saturated fats.

The straight Atkins approach no longer seems to be the way to go. The Atkins diet soon gave way to more balanced, lower fat, and heat healthy diets such as the Zone Diet, South Beach Diet and other spawns of these balanced, low calorie diets like Body for Life.

All of these diets advocate a similar approach – carbs in moderation – and when carbs are consumed – make them the healthy whole grain kind.

Basically, this means you still take carbs in, they are just not the unhealthy, body clogging variety such as white breads, rices and pastas, but rather whole wheat products in moderation, and “slow burning” carbs that absorb into the system and take longer to be burned up than simple carbohydrates.

This means no refined sugars, only natural fruits, and no refined flour products. The low carb diet pills that work will actually help to convert “bad carbs” into “good carbs, by making refined flours, pastas and sweets change from fast burn to slow burn carbs.

While we’d all love to say we can stick to such diets 24/7, there are ALWAYS temptations around every corner. How are you supposed to enjoy food, and enjoy the occasional social event or social convention such as the winter holidays, without indulging in some “carb overload” once in while, right? Wouldn’t it be nice to block these excess carbs?

Don’t get me wrong, I do not advocate this type of diet on an ongoing basis, but rest assured there are low carb diet pills that really work to absorb excess “carbage” (I just made that up, like it?), for when you indulge, or even if you feel you’ve had a day where you are not going to be or have not been disciplined enough with your diet. One such carb blocking ingredient, derived from a type of bean, has actually has been clinically proven to work to inhibit excess calorie storage for over-consumption of high-carb foods.

Low carb diet pills that contain the only clinically proven ingredient called “Phase 2″ actually slow and inhibit the absorption and hence fat storage causes by excess quantities of carbohydrates. This unique compound called Phase 2, promotes weight loss, reduces carb cravings, slows the absorption of bad carbs, and lowers triglyceride levels.

Low carb diet pills have been proven to be most effective when taken just before a meal with carbohydrates, although they also have been proven to still have some effect when take during or shortly thereafter a carb-rich meal.

About the author:

Visit Low Carb Diet Pills for information on the effective carb blocker/low carb diet pills talked about in this article. Danna Schneider is the founder of CosmeticsGalore.com, a cosmetic enhancement product review site.

Written By: Danna Schneider

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What You Should Know About Low Carb Diets!

May 11th, 2007

What is a Low Carb Diet? You’ll do away with bad carbs and bad fats, and start eating good fats and good carbs. What you need to understand is that you are not really on a diet, but changing the way you eat. Eating the wrong foods consistently throws your body out of balance. Most of us tend to overdue it eating processed carbs. What do I mean by processed carbs? Basically, there are two kinds of carbohydrates, simple and complex. Some refer to them as bad and good carbs, fast and slow digestion carbs and others. Here are some basic explanations:

SIMPLE CARBS – Foods with simple or refined carbohydrates most often have a low nutrient content and a high-glycemic index. They are metabolized quickly (quick to digest). They enter the bloodstream and rapidly elevate blood sugar levels, then fall dramatically within a short span of time. In order to keep the body running healthy and stable, it is recommended that these type foods be limited. Examples of these simple or overprocessed carbs are white bread, potatoes, and sugary treats like cookies, candy, cupcakes and cakes, and beverages like cola products.

COMPLEX CARBS – Foods with complex carbohydrates contain many nutrients and have a low- to moderate-glycemic index. Higher fiber content in these foods means slower digestion, which is healthier for the body (including reducing mood swings and food cravings). And these foods are considered good choices by health advisors. Examples of these complex carbs are whole grains, most fruits and vegetables. Legumes, plants of the pea or bean family, are also in this category.

WHICH IS BEST?? Studies show that low-carb diets can help with weight loss; which means that the carbs need to be of the complex, low-glycemic type. The key is eating whole, real, unprocessed food found as close to nature as possible.

WHY DOES YOUR BODY NEED CARBOHYDRATES ANYWAY? Carbohydrates cause your body to produce a hormone called Insulin. Insulin is responsible for the movement of glucose (sugar) from the food you eat into the cells of your body to be used for energy. Excess glucose (that is not burned as energy) is then stored as body fat.

Years of consuming too many carbohydrates can lead to a sensitivity of the cells to Insulin. This can result in the body having to make more (and more) Insulin to get the same job done. Over time over-production of Insulin can lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, obesity and type II diabetes and more. A side effect of Insulin over-production is that it actually causes more fat to be deposited.

EATING LOW CARBS WORKS WITH YOUR BODY.

All the food you consume provides energy for your body. Your body burns fuel in this order: carbohydrates / fat / protein. So, by limiting the carbohydrates you eat, it is perfectly natural for your body to burn fat next. Your body will go inward and start burning your own body fat for fuel. Because of this store of body fat, you wont feel hungry and you will maintain a more even blood sugar level throughout the day.

One important thing to note here is … it is not eating too much fat that makes you overweight – it is eating far more carbohydrates than your body needs to use for energy.

It is important, however, that any and all dietary planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical practitioners. Also, drinking 8 glasses of water a day and consistent exercise is vital to your body’s health. This content only presents overviews of low-carb research for informative purposes and does not replace medical advice from a professional physician.

About the author:

Theresa is an avid cook and gardener. Visit her blogs for more information, articles, recipes and more: Low Calorie Recipe, Low-Fat-Recipes and Low Carb Recipe

Written By: Theresa Sontag

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Weight Loss – Low Carb Diet Plans

May 7th, 2007

When most people want to lose weight the first thing they usually do is start a diet. And a diet to most people means “stop eating”.

Wrong!

A healthy diet should consist of eating less of the foods that contain calories from simple carbohydrates (sugar and processed flour) and more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and good sources of protein. This is the basis of a good low carb diet plan.

As a matter of fact, a good diet should have you eating more instead of less! Not more food, but more often.

The body’s a wonderful mechanism. It’s geared towards one important goal. Survival. When your body feels threatened by the lack of food it automatically assumes that you’re starving.

To combat this condition the body will start breaking down muscle to use as energy and saves its fat stores for the last ditch effort to save itself from what it thinks is immanent death.

This is bad on two fronts.

First, by using muscle tissue for energy you’re losing precious lean mass which is metabolically active. This means that you need energy to support muscle which helps to keep your metabolism running at a higher pace. Higher metabolism means more calories burned even in a resting state.

Fat, on the other hand, doesn’t need any energy to support it. It’s simply “dead” weight.

Secondly, the body will start storing more fat because it’s preparing itself for the worst. Your survival is your body’s most important concern so it’ll do whatever it can to stay alive.

So what can you do if you want to eat less without starving yourself and sending your body into this defense mode?

Eat smaller meals more often throughout the day.

This works on two levels.

By eating more often you won’t get hungry as quickly and your metabolism will stay raised because you’ll be digesting food more often. Digesting food uses calories just like any other physical activity.

So here’s the plan. Eat four or five meals a day. Not what most would consider a meal (main course with two sides and dessert!), but a small portion of protein along with some fresh fruits and veggies.

This can be accomplished with a little planning and preparing in your spare time.

Cook your weeks worth of meals – skinless chicken’s an excellent source of protein and can usually be purchased in a big pack or value pack from your local grocery store – and refrigerate it in separate packages, one for each meal.

Egg whites are a very good source of protein too. By mixing three or four whites with one yolk and tossing it into the microwave for approximately 90 seconds, whipping it and tossing it back in for another 60 seconds, you can have some nice fluffy scrambled eggs practically anywhere. Without all the cholesterol!

Buy your produce and clean it, separating it too into meal size portions. All this can be done in a few hours on the weekend.

Buying some disposable storage containers can help keep things convenient and organized.

Try to eat every three hours or so to keep your metabolism and energy up. This’ll help you stay away from those snacking binges too.

Also, drink lots of water. Water will help to cleanse your body and make you feel full.

So you see, with a little planning and by adhering to a low carb diet plan sometimes eating more can be better!

About the author:

Jay is the web owner of http://www.weight-loss.biz/weight-loss-program/ Weight Loss Program, a website that provides information and resources on nutrition, weight loss programs, and fitness. You can also visit his website at: http://www.diet-pill.info/south-beach-diet/ for South Beach Diet

Written By: Jay Bauder

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Whither Low-Carb?

May 3rd, 2007

Fads fade for a reason. Like pet rocks, low-carb diets will disappear because they just don’t do anything worthwhile. The drop-out rate is high – about 50 percent because the diets are boring and are unpalatable to most people. More than 90 percent of dieters return to their previous weight within 5 years, most of them even sooner. Minor side effects such as headache, fuzzy thinking, irritability, halitosis and constipation are almost universal among Atkins adherents. Severe side effects are, fortunately, rare.

Physicians are concerned that long-term adherence to a high-fat, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet may lead to kidney stones, osteoporosis and heart abnormalities. Kidney stones and disturbances of heart rhythm are well-documented complications of the decades-old ketogenic diet (high fat, low protein, low carbohydrate) that paediatricians have used to lower the seizure frequency in children with neurological disorders.

A reputable journal reported in May 2004 that low-carb diets helped people lose weight without causing adverse effects on cholesterol levels. There was joy among food manufacturers, who had already rushed to market low-carb products that covered the spectrum from beer to bonbons. Lost in all this was the cool scientific observation that overweight persons experienced only a moderate weight loss, and that severely overweight individuals lost, on average, only one pound per month during the study year. The cholesterol profiles did, indeed favor the low-carb dieters, but those levels remained high because thats where they started out. Finally, few journalists revealed that the Atkins Foundation funded one of these studies

Those who can successfully navigate the inconvenience and side effects of the low-carb diet and then maintain a significant loss of fat will gain much benefit. The early weight loss, however, is mostly water. Much of the later weight loss consists of lean body mass, mostly muscle. Long-term success depends not only on careful attention to diet, but also to regular exercise. Those who do not incorporate an exercise routine into their life are destined to gain all the weight back, and then some.

In what direction is the low-carb phenomenon going? First, proponents are already backing away from saturated fat. The South Beach diet recognizes that polyunsaturated (from fish) and monounsaturated (from olive oil) fats are not only acceptable, they are essential to good health. Second, the distinction between refined carbohydrates (white flour, sugar) and whole grains is one that needs to be widely disseminated. Third, the low-fat establishment cannot and must not ignore the overwhelming benefits of fruits and vegetables in the prevention of cancer and heart disease.

The low-carb craze has probably reached its peak, but remnants will persist for a generation or more, and permutations of it will rise episodically like phoenixes among those who are looking for effortless weight loss. Like the phoenix, that is a myth.

About The Author

Philip J. Goscienski, M.D. is a pediatric infectious diseases specialist with a 45-year career in clinical and academic medicine. Dr. Goscienski has written for the Saturday Evening Post and Currents, the national newsletter of the American Heart Association and is a featured writer for North San Diego County Magazine. He has drawn on his interests in biology, anthropology, paleopathology and physical fitness to develop Better Life Seminars, a series of presentations in which he explains how our most distant ancestors lived, and how we can apply this knowledge to extend our healthspan and avoid the major chronic diseases of our age. His book, Health Secrets of the Stone Age is based on his seminars, and on the most recent findings in medical and anthropological research. It is scheduled for a January 2005 release date. You can visit his web site at www.stoneagedoc.com.

Written By: Philip J. Goscienski, M.D.

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Are Atkins Diet And Low Carb Diets Safe?

April 25th, 2007

Are low carb diets safe? How safe is Atkins diet? Are low carb and Atkins diets dangerous to your health? These are burning questions for dieters all over the world.

I have personally tried low carb diets and Atkins diet and these diets made me lose weight very quickly. However not only did I lose body fat weight, I also lost muscle weight. I had very obvious muscle and fat loss because I can visually see my reduced muscle mass in the mirror.

This certainly isn’t healthy. Furthermore, the more muscle mass that you lose, the less toned your body shape is. The end result is that you will end up thin and yet looked flabby with lose skin.

The frustrating part will be that after you are off the low carb or Atkins diet, you will very probably gain back all the weight that you have loss and even more. This is because your muscles are active and they continuously burn calories. Since you have less fewer muscle mass now, your body’s metabolism or capacity to burn calories slows down tremendously.

In other words, when you put on weight again, you are putting on body fat instead of muscles if you do not exercise. You will be fatter and less healthy than before you went on the low carb or Atkins diet. To compound matters, because of lesser muscle tissues resulting in lower metabolism and thus lesser calories being burnt, you are going to get fatter.

Since then I have stayed off both low carb and Atkins diet. Both types of diets are almost similar as they require you to cut down drastically on your consumption of carbohydrates. Atkins diet went a step further by advocating almost no carbohydrate consumption for 2 weeks before adding some carbs to your meals gradually thereafter.

Besides losing muscles, how safe are low carb diets? This is what Dr Lyn Steffen and Dr Jennifer Nettleton from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health commentated in a Lancet report, “Low carbohydrate diets for weight management are far from healthy, given their association with ketosis, constipation or diarrhea, halitosis, headache and general fatigue to name a few.”

The doctors warned that the diet increases protein load on the kidneys and alters the balance of acid in the body. This also results in loss of minerals from the bone stores and affect bone strength. The doctors went on to say that, “Our most important criterion should be indisputable safety and low carbohydrate diets currently fall short of this benchmark.”

Dr Atkins, the creator of the Atkins diet died in 2003 after he was alleged to have slipped on an icy road and hurt his head fatally. However his medical report stated that he had a history of heart attack, hypertension and congestive heart failure.

Were Dr Atkins medical conditions related to his low carbohydrates diet is anybody’s guess. Do you want to take the risk by going on a low carb diet? I don’t think I will. If I ever want to lose weight again, I will rather go on the proven method of healthy eating and regular exercises instead of jumping on any fad diets.

About The Author:

Chris Chew is a fitness personal trainer of actors, fashion models, pageant contestants and celebs. See his websites for more articles http://www.sgfitness.com and http://www.sgfitnessonline.com

Written By: Chris Chew

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What are the benefits of the low-carb diet?

April 17th, 2007

Are you one of those who hate dieting? Well, you are not alone, almost all of us hate the deprivation from food that dieting brings to us. Aside from the fact that our parents raise us to believe that food intake is necessary to keep us energetic, especially carbohydrates. Potatoes and breads are the essential members of our diet from morning, noon and night. Therefore, we resent the idea that carbohydrates are not good for us.

However, your thinking might change upon reading the low-carb diet overview. In the low-carb diet overview, you will learn that energy does not come from carbohydrates alone. Low-carb diet overview will also tell you that good fats convert to energy much like carbohydrates, as we know it to be. Low-carb diet overview will likewise tell you about the recommended carbohydrates like whole grain, fruits and vegetables. However, you should minimize intake of carbohydrates to as low as 10% of your total calorie intake. If you can maintain your consumption of carbohydrates to as low as 10% of your calorie intake, you should eat more fats and moderate protein. Then, the low-carb diet overview will be the best tool to compliment your weight loss regimen and avoid jumping on the obese bandwagon.

The low-carb diet overview will explain how you can best manage your weight. In contrast with the belief that carbohydrates are necessary to build your energy profile, fat may replace carbohydrates in this arena.

You will also learn from the low-carb diet overview that it is the best diet for obese individuals. Diabetics may also use the low-carb diet overview to combat the cause of obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia and type II diabetes because studies show that low-carb diet attacks the condition called hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia is a condition where insulin levels in the blood are elevated.

It may also be helpful knowledge you will get from low-carb diet overview is the advantages one will get from low-carb diet. Sustained weight loss is one advantage of low-carb diet. Another advantage you will learn from low-carb diet overview and low-card dieting is stable blood sugar, this is specifically important for diabetics and those people prone to diabetes. If you have a relative who is a diabetic, then you are one of those people prone to diabetes. Low cholesterol level is also an advantage of low-carb dieting. Some low-card dieters also report being more energetic than their counterparts who are not dieting.

Finally, here are some basic guidelines you will get from the low-carb diet overview. You should limit your carbohydrates intake to 10% or less of your total calorie intake. You will also find the list of allowed foods, you will also find the list of foods to avoid and foods with hidden sugar in the low-carb diet overview. Avoiding food containing sugar and white flour is also part of the low carb diet. Avoiding caffeine and drinking lots of clean and clear water also help in the dieting process. Taking fiber supplements and vitamin will help during the initial stage of low-carb dieting, you will understand this need better upon reading the low-carb diet overview.

Low-carb dieting is good for everyone who wants to loose weight, so try it to experience a trim lifestyle. However, when you finally decide to try it, after reading the low-carb diet overview, visit your health care professional just to be sure that low-carb dieting is really, what you need.

About the Author

For free advice, tips and education about weight loss, fitness and dieting visit Weight Loss Information at http://www.effective-weight-loss.info

Written By: Christine Edwards

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Low GI Diet or Low Carb Diet – Which One Is Best?

April 9th, 2007

These days, most everyone has heard of low carb diets such as the South Beach and Atkins diet but the GI or glycemic index diet is a fairly new name on the diet scene. While low carb diets restrict the quantity of carbohydrates, the GI diet focuses on the quality of carbohydrates. It works by promoting the consumption of foods that are low on the glycemic index, foods which will have a gently effect on your blood sugar levels and keep you full longer.

A typical low carb diet, has a restrictive phase in the beginning where your carbohydrate intake is severely limited. You can eat all the meat you want and fats are also unlimited, although the South Beach Diet does encourage you to stick to low fat meats and healthy fats. As the diet progresses, you can gradually add in more carbohydrates, typically those with a low glycemic index are also those that are lower in carbs.
Although a low GI diet might be new to you, it has actually been around since the 1970s and is used in many European countries to help manage diabetes. Recently, however, this way of eating has gotten a lot of attention as a healthy way to control weight. This diet focuses on carbohydrates good carbs have a low glycemic index and you should eat plenty of them (incidentally, these are also the foods that we know to be good for us like fruits, vegetables and whole grains). Bad carbs have a high glycemic index and should be eaten in moderation and mixed with the low glycemic index carbs to lower the overall GI of a meal. Since this diet focuses only on carbs it is very easy for vegetarians to adopt this way of eating.

In comparison, a low carb diet can be limiting in fruits and vegetables which are high in vitamins, minerals and enzymes as well as fiber. Many people associate low carb diets with a license to eat as much saturated fat as you want, but that choice is up to the individual so we really cant fault the diet for this misconception. A low GI diet is full of fruits, vegetables, fiber and low in fat but emphasis the good fats found in nuts. It encourages eating lean meats in moderation.

While we all know that meats and fats are no carb and green leafy vegetables are low carb, some may not be aware of what foods have a low glycemic index. Most vegetables (except potatoes, beets, pumpkin) have a very low GI. Some fruits that have a low GI include citrus fruits, apples, plums and peaches while most other fruits have a medium GI value. Oatmeal, most pasta and whole wheat bread also have a low GI.

So which diet is best?

Where many people in the health and nutrition profession consider a low carb diet to be unhealthy, most everyone would consider a GI diet to be very healthy. Studies have shown that eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help to bolster your immune system thus allowing you to fight disease and eating high fat meats may adversely affect your health and help contribute to heart disease. That being said, it has also been shown that being overweight is a major health risk for many diseases so the best diet is probably one that works for you! Some folks might respond better to a low carb, others to a low GI. Either way, it makes sense to make healthy food choices, limit food intake and exercise for your good health.

About the Author

Lee Dobbins is owner and editor of Low Carb And Low GI Resource where you can learn more about the glycemic index value of foods.

Feel free to reprint and distribute this article as you like but please do not change the article and you must include the resource box with all its active links.

Written By: Lee Dobbins

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