Posts Tagged ‘low carb diets’

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The Effect Of A Low Carb Diet On Your Insulin Level

March 8th, 2007

The underlying principles of low carb diets are based on the role of insulin in our body. There are three basic units the body uses for energy: Fats, Proteins, and Carbohydrates.

All three can be converted to blood glucose. However, while fats and proteins are converted slowly, carbohydrates are converted quickly causing quick spikes in the bodys blood sugar levels. These spikes in blood sugar levels cause the pancreas to create and release insulin until the blood sugar level returns to normal.

Meanwhile, insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that lowers our bloods glucose levels is released into the blood as soon as the body detects that blood sugar levels have risen above its optimal level.

Insulin is a very efficient hormone that runs the bodys fuel storage systems. If there is excess sugar or fat in the blood insulin will signal the body to store it in the bodys fat cells. Insulin also tells these cells not to release their stored fat, making that fat unavailable for use by the body as energy.

Since this stored fat cannot be released for use as energy, insulin very effectively prevents weight loss. The higher the bodys insulin levels, the more effectively it prevents fat cells from releasing their stores, and the harder it becomes to lose weight. According to many authorities, over the long term, high insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance and cause serious health problems like obesity, accelerated aging, increased food allergies and intolerances, overworked immune system, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.

Carbohydrates, especially simple carbs like sugar and starch, are quickly turned into sucrose by the body entering the blood stream quicker thereby causing the release of large amounts of insulin. The fewer carbs are eaten, the less insulin is produced by the body, and the fewer calories are stored as fat. Less fat storage equals less weight gain and fewer carbs eaten equals less insulin in the blood and the body using its fat stores for fuel.

The premise behind every low-carb diet plan is that a body that produces less insulin burns more fat than a body that produces lots of insulin. Some plans encourage a period of extremely low carbohydrate intake so that the body will enter a state of ketosis and more quickly burn fat stores.

These are usually called induction periods. The length of extreme carb control varies from seven days to however long it takes you to reach your ideal weight. After this period of extremely low carb dieting, maintenance levels of carb consumption are followed to prevent weight gain. The amount of carb you can safely eat will depend on your unique body system. And you will probably have to experiment to find out what level of carb intake is best for you.

No matter what your carb intake, it will be lower than the norm and you will still eliminate white flour and white flour products and certain other sugary and starchy foods. This is why these diet plans are known as low-carb lifestyles.

Low-carb success requires that you be willing to give up simple carbs for the long-term.

About the Author

For more low carb information and a FREE copy of the ebook “30-day Low Carb Diet Ketosis Plan”, please subscribe to our ezine Low Carb eGazette. This article is for informational purposes only. You should consult with your physician before starting any diet.

Written By: Jun Lim

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Low Carb Diets are Catching On Across the Country

February 16th, 2007

There is no question about the fact that the low carb diet is in. Magazine covers proclaim its success, books like Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and The South Beach Diet remain on the top sellers list week after week, and stores that specialize in low carb foods are popping up all over the country.

Low carb products now account for over $2.5 billion dollars in retail sales every year. The effects of this trend can be seen in the grocery store. According to Maureen Putman of the Hain-Celestial Group, sales of high carbohydrate foods such as pasta and bread are down 7.5 and 3 percent respectively. At the same time, sales of foods in the low carbohydrate categories, such as breakfast sausage, are up 7.5 percent.

The Low Carb Diet is based on the theory that over consumption of carbs and the way our bodies process them is a key factor in obesity. The low carb diet restricts processed and refined carbohydrates and limits the consumption of sugar, breads, pasta and starchy vegetables. If the body burns fat and carbohydrates for energy, by limiting carbs it burns fat.

The New England Journal of Medicine recently cited two studies that found people on the low carb diet lost twice as much weight over 6 months as those on a low fat diet, and had the added benefit of improved levels of good cholesterol.

With low carb diets on the rise, its estimated that over 35 million consumers will be seeking low carb versions of the foods they consume. Hain Celestial is among the food companies working to meet the growing need.

We are using our core competencies in natural and better-for-you foods to launch Carb Fit, says Putman. Carb Fit is a complete line of products that leverage demand for low carb products with the increasing demand for natural products, to deliver a strong one-two punch. The initial Carb Fit line up includes snacks from Hain Pure Snax, Pastas from DeBoles and Cookies from Health Valley.

* Carb Fit Pasta from DeBoles contains only 9 net carbs (the carbohydrates that can be digested and processed by the body as dietary carbohydrate and therefore directly impact blood sugar) per serving, 75 percent less carbs than regular pasta (42 grams), and comes in 4 of the top selling shapes — spaghetti, elbow, penne and rotini.

* Carb Fit Cookies from Health Valley contain only 6 to 7 net carbs per serving, compared to regular cookies 30 to 45 grams. And like all Health Valley products, they contain no hydrogenated oils or trans fats. Varieties include Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Almond.

* Carb Fit Soy Nuts from Hain Pure Snax, in Salted and Red Hot varieties, contain only 5 net carbs and have the healthful benefits of soy. Carb Fit Twirls also contain just 5 net carbs, compared to regular snacks 15 to 20 grams. They come in two delicious flavors, nacho and ranch.

These products are just the first in a line-up of over 45 products across 21 categories expected to roll-out over the next few months from The Hain Celestial Group. For more information about Hain-Celestials Carb Fit line, log onto www.carbfit.com or call (800) 434-4246.

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Courtesy of ARA Content

Written By: ARA

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The Low Carb F.A.Q

January 19th, 2007

When most people think of low carb diets they automatically think Atkins. For obvious reasons. Dr. Robert Atkins formulated the original low carb diet in 1972 and was met a with a hail of ridicule and negativity from the medical community at large.

The Atkins Diet, since renamed to the Atkins Nutritional Approach, works on a very simple principle. Carbohydrates are what our body normally use to produce energy. If you restrict the carbohydrate intake of a normal person their metabolism changes. Changes? Yes your body looks to the next available energy source which is….fat. So now instead of burning carbohydrates for energy your body does the same thing with your existing fat deposits.

In a low carbohydrate diet you actually increase your intake of fat and pure protein as opposed to reducing it. In theory the more fat you eat the more fat you burn because your body is now using fat for energy. It’s common to see low carb dieters eating enormous steaks smothered in butter with fried eggs and mushrooms on the side. A very high fat meal but also a perfect low carbohydrate meal.

The fat burning process is called lipolysis. As the fat is being broken down for energy a secondary phase called ketosis occurs. Ketones are the fragments of fat being broken down in the process of lipolysis hence the name ketosis.

Ketosis has a single nasty side effect -bad breath. For whatever biological reason the conversion of fat to energy can lead to really, really bad breath. This is a common complaint amongst followers of Atkins and similar low carbohydrate diets.

Amongst some of the bad press that low carb diets receive are worrying stories of people dying while on a low carb diet. These hyped up media tales are tied to one word – ketoacidosis. This particular condition occurs when a person goes on a zero carbohydrate diet and/or suffers from diabetes. During the ketosis phase the blood becomes overly acidic to a critical point. Coma and death can follow quickly if medical attention is not immediately sought.

Does everybody following a low carb diet run the risk of ketoacidosis? Not unless you have a history of diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed) and you also totally eliminate carbohydrates from your diet. Even then only a small number of people are actually susceptible to the effects of ketoacidosis when compared to the general population.

The results that low carb diets produce are hard to argue with. Rapid weight loss in a short space of time whilst on a high fat, high protein diet. These results fly in the face of conventional medical wisdom and serve to constantly annoy the established medical community.

Low carb dieting is not going to disappear any time soon. Especially not as long as major Hollywood celebrities are successfully using Atkins and showing off their results to the world media.

About the author:

This article was submitted courtesy of the Low Carb Advice website. You can find tons of useful information on low carb diets there. (C) Copyright 2005 Low Carb Advice

Written By: Niall Roche

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Low Carb Diet Requirements & How They Work

January 15th, 2007

A low carb diet, also known as a low carbohydrate diet, is a diet program designed to promote weight loss while restricting the consumption of carbohydrates. The theory behind a low carb diet is that carbohydrates consumption is linked to increased insulin levels and obesity. Some nutritionists have varying opinions regarding the validity and safety of a low carb diet, but others refer to the strong evidence lending truth to the claim that a low carb diet can actually promote weight loss.

A low carb diet specifically consists of eliminating or reducing foods that contain sugar, grains and starches. With each of these products being labeled as carbohydrates, they are replaced with other foods containing increased fat and protein. Many people enjoy vegetables as part of a healthy diet and while they too are classified as carbohydrates, they are believed to be much healthier than grains.

As with most diet programs, there are two sides to the story with individuals who oppose and those who agree with the approach. Specifically, some experts believe that low carb diets carry their own risks and possible side effects, including headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and/or dehydration. By lowering or eliminating dietary fiber, many believe that constipation may also occur as a result of the fiber absence. In addition, some believe that the replacement of cholesterol and foods high in saturated fat my increase the risk of developing heart disease. There are also some concerns that kidney problems may ensue as a result of the organs becoming overworked, but there are no scientific studies to support this theory as of yet.

The acceptance of low carb diet foods have had various impacts on some of the worlds largest food producers. Pasta makers, for example, suffered a reduction in the need for their products and believed that the loss was connected to low carb diets. A popular doughnut manufacturer admitted that earnings were lower than usual and associated the reduction with low card diets, which reduced the demand for their product as well. Several companies, on the other hand, watched as their profits were on the rise as they promoted low carb products in stores and restaurants.

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or a nutritionists recommendation. Prior to beginning any dietary program, including a low carb diet, individuals should consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or an appropriate path toward weight loss.

About the Author:

To find out more about low carb diet, please visit our website at www.best-low-carb-diets.info . It contains tons of free low carb diet articles, resources and tips.

Written By: Rory Peters

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Could Low Carb Eating Help You Lose Weight?

January 3rd, 2007

There are an increasing number of people who take on the process of low carb eating believing that it will help them for their weight loss.

However, there is still an existing and hottest question when dealing with low carb eating, and that is if low carb eating a healthy way of life. So what then is the answer? Find out here.

Speaking of the low carb eating, it is a common consideration that it is not important to count calories in the low carb eating lifestyle. As such, you have the freedom to eat as much as you want and whenever you want. But despite this truth behind the low carb eating lifestyle, many experts have noted this is never a healthy way of life.

Many people are indeed metabolically resistant. So in instances like this, the proper way of reducing food intake may aid the dieters to motivate or sustain the consistent weight loss that they wish. Still, when talking about low carb eating, it is the carbohydrates that must be kept low, not the calories.

To further support the view, it is a given fact that in low carb eating lifestyle, you are definitely been eating fats and oils. As such, you rarely ever be hungry for in general, those foods that are high in fat are ever satisfying. A high fat eating coupled with a low carb eating supplements will tell your body that it is not starving just like the case of fasting, but rather your metabolism in this stage maintains a normal level. So while consuming fat is one of the prerequisites for a healthy low carb eating, it is then necessary to limit the consumption of trans-fats like margarine. Instead of that, it is recommended that you use real butter, for it is a good fat. And for your interest, good fats are found in olive oil, flax seed oil, canola oil, and oils that are greatly found in nuts.

So then, is low carb eating healthy? Well, on a low carb eating, you can definitely lose weight constantly and it can reduce your insulin levels, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and even stabilize your blood sugar, which is of course great for diabetics. And since in low carb eating, you will be taking less fruits and vegetables, it is then necessary that you take a good full-spectrum multi vitamins and fiber supplements.

It is also important to consider that the main purpose of the low carb eating is to bring your body chemistry and insulin level back into balance. And so to make this, you need to take a diet that is unbalanced in the opposite direction of the way that you have been eating for the rest of your life.

About the Author:

To find out more about weight loss and low carb diets just visit Ling’s blog at: http://www.obesity.blogonline24.com

Written By: Ling Su

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Celebrity Low Carb Diet Addicts

December 10th, 2006

Low carbohydrate diets have really taken off over recent years, and the first to show off the effects of these diets are frequently A-list celebrities. We all watch these celebrities being snapped in newspapers and magazines with their svelte new figures, and this encourages the public to switch to the same sort of diet. Low carb eating plans such as the Atkins Diet have been catapulted to worldwide exposure through the recommendations of gorgeous, slim stars that swear by these methods.

Friends’ star, Jennifer Aniston, was a huge follower of low carb dieting, and her super-slim figure encouraged millions of normal people to quickly jump on the low carb bandwagon in the hope of shedding the pounds. Coupling her eating habits with yoga and exercise has helped Jennifer to develop an enviable and world-famous slim figure, making her an icon for millions of women around the world.

The UK’s Catherine Zeta Jones was the envy of millions when she quickly shed the pounds after giving birth to her first child with star husband Michael Douglas. It was soon impossible to tell that Catherine had even given birth, as her figure sprang back to its svelte and firm former state. Jones used a low carb eating plan in order to help her shed the excess weight after giving birth, and this diet along with exercise made it possible for her to be back on screen in record time looking better than ever.

Former UK Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell, was once a curvy and busty redhead. However, with the help of a low carb diet and plenty of yoga, Geri lost a great deal of weight and has spent the last few years sporting a super-slim figure to complement her new, chic look. Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow is also known to be a low carb diet fan, and enjoys supplementing her yoga with a range of low carb foods to keep her waif like figure in shape.

Many stars, both male and female, use low carb diets to shape up for movies, as this enables them to lose excess pounds quite quickly. Movie superstars such as Ben Affleck, have switched to low carb eating plans to get in shape for upcoming movies. Ben was known to favor low carb foods whilst shaping up for his role in Pearl Harbor.

And it’s not just Hollywood actors that use low carb diets to get in shape. Many musicians and pop stars also enjoy low carb diets in order to get them in shape for concerts and tours. This helps them to maintain energy levels as well as slim down and stay trim, an important factor for all stars, who are very conscious of their appearance. Low carb diets have always proven popular with high profile stars, and most low carb eating plans have these celebrities to thank for their popularity and exposure.

About the author:

Find out more about Diet and Nutrition at healthandfinesse.com

Written By: Nicky Pilkington

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Draw Backs With Low Carb Diets

October 23rd, 2006

There are a lot of low carb diets out there such as the very famous Atkins diet. Low carb diets have been the most popular form of diets for a few years now. But are there any drawbacks to consider.

The basic idea behind low carb diets is that you should force your body to burn fat from the bodies fat depots for energy. This is done by restricting the calorie intake making sure that the body doesn’t get enough carbs to cover the bodies energy demand. The process of burning fat for energy in the body releases something called ketones into your bloodstream. The ketones are then later expelled from your body with your urine. The process of expelling the ketones from your blood increases the strain on your kidneys. This might lead to kidney problems in the long run.

Other draw backs with a low carb diet includes the fact that your body doesn’t get all the nutrients it needs which can cause problems if a low carb diet is kept over a longer period of time. A low carb diet excludes too many food types and nutrients to be a suitable long time diet option.

A low carb diet may also cause your body to burn protein that it takes from muscle tissue. It is for this reason very important to train your muscles regularly if you keep a low carb diet. Muscles can count for a large percentage of your weight loss during a low carb diet if you don’t train during the diet.

Low carb diets also often causes you to expel large amounts of water which can account for a large percentage of the weight loss during a low carb diet. Water weight that you lost during your diet will quickly return after the diet has ended.

A low carbs diet can also make you feel that you have less energy (which you in fact have) and it can therefore be hard to perform more intensive training. The muscles don’t have their best fuel to work with, carbs. You might therefore be forced to train less intensive during a low carb diet. This makes low carb diets less suitable for those who are used to intensive training especially in the long run.

Low Carb diets has several draw backs but can be a very good diet form in the short run and can be used to help get you started on your way to a more slender body. It is however not suitable to be used over long periods of time. The good old way to lose weight is best in the long run, a stable diet and training.

About the Author

A good diet is important for permanent weight loss and a good part of such a diet is Tilapia fish. Tilapia is low fat, low calorie and easy to cook. Tilapia can be cooked in a number of ways, all tasty like for example grilled Tilapia

Written By: William Berg

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Carbohydrates – Good Or Bad?

October 19th, 2006

Happy Birthday Zanya :)

Carbohydrates have gotten a lot of bad press in the past few years with the advent of low carb diets, but the truth is that not all carbohydrates are bad and, in fact, your body needs carbs to survive.

Many people mistakenly believe that eating bacon, eggs and steak will set them on the road to a thinner body with increased energy and good health, but this is not the case. While cutting out the simple carbohydrates found in processed foods is a healthier way of eating, neglecting the complex carbs found in fruits and vegetables can be hazardous to your health.

Fruits and vegetables are packed with enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fiber. All key ingredients to your health. They also contain antioxidants which can help your body fight disease and may even help ward off certain kinds of cancer.

Picking The Best Carbs

The old saying you are what you eat has a lot of truth to it. You get the energy that your body uses as well as your nutritional needs such as vitamins, minerals and fiber from the foods you eat. Doesnt it make sense, then to eat foods that will provide your body with the best fuel possible?

You want to avoid foods that are processed. Im sorry to say that most foods that can be found in packaged in your supermarket like cookies, cereals and even white bread are filled with bad carbs. These foods are often processed to taste better and all the nutrients are stripped out in the process. Then chemicals are added in to prolong shelf life and add to color and taste. Your body has no use for these empty calories so when you eat these foods it is a big drain on the body to digest them and try to salvage any nutritional value from them.

The fruits and vegetables, on the other hand are filled with nutrients. When you eat these, your body gets lots of high energy fuel that it can use to keep up your energy levels and help your body fight off disease. In addition, the enzymes found in the fruits and veggies aid your body in the digestion process, thus freeing it up for more important activities.

So, in reality, carbohydrates are both good and bad. It is up to you to make sure you fuel your body with more of the good carbs for optimum health. A good rule of thumb when shopping is to stick to the outside aisles of the grocery store and avoid the middle. Buy as many fresh fruits and veggies as you can (organic if possible) and frequent your local farmers market to purchase locally grown produce if you are lucky enough to have one near you.

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Confused about carbs? Visit http://www.carbzine.com to find out more about carbohydrates and your health.

Written By: Lee Dobbins

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Who Said Low Carb Diets Ever Meant NO Carb??

October 15th, 2006

A little information if often a dangerous thing… and many people trying low carb diets failed miserably in the long-run because they took the concept to its extreme figuring that if low-carb diets were good, then no-carb diets must be better? Wrong!

One of the primary reasons why low carb diets are so successful for a lot of people is that it forces them to remove the nutrient-deficient junk food from their daily food intake. In the last 20 years the average North American diet has become so polluted with refined foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats that the average American is now clinically obese!

Low carb diets owe their success to common sense more that any diet revelation. When was it ever acceptable to consume donuts, soda pop, Big Macs, deep-fried French fries and pizza on a daily basis? As peoples lives became busier the advent of fast food and convenience food grew by leaps and bounds. This was all very convenient for busy families trying to get food on the dinner table in time, but only now are we realizing the true cost of this convenience.

Processed and refined foods alter foods from their natural complex state, grinding them into fine powders that are easier to handle, store, preserve, and use in the manufacturing process. The unintended consequence of this refining process is that it makes it much easier for your body to absorb the carbohydrate glycogen energy from these foods, and creates large spikes in blood glucose levels. This in turn puts additional strain and stress on your bodys internal processes as they try to compensate for these glucose spikes, and in the process tells you body to store the energy as additional fat! In general, carbohydrates that are consumed in their natural state take longer to breakdown in your body, and the glucose release is dampened, leading to lower overall blood glucose levels.

The success of low carb diets lies more in the fact that it forces you to eliminate most refined carbohydrates, to eat foods in their natural state, and eat foods that have a low caloric density, which ultimately forces you to consume less calories!

If you’d like more ideas on how to incorporate delicious low carb foods into your lifestyle you can search the recipe database at:

http://www.mylowcarbdietrecipes.com/myrecipes.asp

About the Author

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, correspondent, and contributing editor of My Low Carb Diet Recipes resource site and can be reached at http://www.mylowcarbdietrecipes.com

Written By: S.A. Smith

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Different types of Carbohydrates

September 25th, 2006

You read a lot about low carb diets, such as Atkins. All my life, through all the diets Ive done and all the reading Ive done, opinions about eating carbohydrates have varied widely. Yes you should, no, you shouldnt at all, just eat low carb vegetables, whatever.

I want to clarify something about carbs that is very important. There are two kinds of carbs, simple or refined carbohydrates, and complex or unrefined carbohydrates. You cant really talk about whether carbs are good or bad for you till youve defined what it is you are talking about.

Complex carbohydrates are foods left in their natural state or very close to it. Brown rice, potatoes, beans, barley, oatmeal are all examples of these kinds of carbs. These high fiber carbs are absorbed slowly in your body. They provide a stable source of energy and minimize blood sugar spikes. This means that your body doesnt have to produce so much insulin to balance out your blood sugar.

Refined carbohydrates are processed foods. Things like white flour, white sugar, corn syrup, white rice are all simple carbohydrates. The process of milling or refining these foods, removes fiber, nutrients and oils. White flour even has to have B vitamins added back in, to provide basic levels of necessary vitamins.

Because there is so little food value in these foods, they are absorbed quickly, cause your blood sugar to spike, thus causing your body to produce insulin to offset this. If you eat these kinds of foods constantly (white bread, sweet roll, cookie, white rice) your body is constantly producing insulin, and it can lead to insulin resistance. In other words, it takes more insulin to level out your blood sugar. This may lead to Type 2 diabetes.

Because these simple carbohydrates are so quickly absorbed, you get hungry again faster. This can lead to overeating and cravings. Your blood sugar goes up again and the whole cycle starts over again.

So, now when you talk about low carb diets, or high carb diets, the important distinction is what kind of carbs. Eating lots of white bread, sugared breakfast cereals, donuts, those are the wrong carbs to eat. Eating whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, vegetables of all kinds, those are the right kind of carbs to eat. They will give you a feeling of fullness, provide vitamins and minerals and fiber, and keep your blood sugar on a more even keel.

About the Author

Barbara Pfieffer writes about gaining real health on her blog, Real Health

Written By: Barbara Pfieffer

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