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Article Series: Low Carb Diet
What
Are The Benefits Of The Low Carb Diet?
The
Best Low Carb Diet
The question of which is the best low carb
diet often comes up for people who are searching for ways to
incorporate the low carb way of eating into their lives. Low
carbohydrate food plans can be very effective but they are
not always easy.
Atkins Diet
Dr Robert Atkins is credited with making low carb diets popular
with his book 'Dr Atkins' Diet Revolution', first published
in 1972. It was largely revised in 'Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution'
(2002) which remains the 'bible' for many people following
the Atkins diet despite later amendments by the company that
took over Dr Atkins' business after his death.
The Atkins diet focuses on restricting carbohydrate intake
to a very low amount (under 20 net carbs) for a two- week induction
period, then gradually increasing them to the point where you
stop losing weight (the 'critical carbohydrate level for losing').
Foods are also limited during induction, and then gradually
added back.
You can eat unlimited meat, fish, eggs and pure fats (oils
and butter) at all times. Cheese, cream and vegetables are
limited in induction, although you are advised to eat at least
2 cups of lower carbohydrate vegetables from the approved list.
Milk, nuts, fruit, beans, starchy vegetables, whole grains,
whole wheat products and alcohol are not allowed during induction
but are added back later. Refined carbohydrates such as white
bread and sugar are not allowed at any stage.
South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet was developed by Dr Arthur Agatston.
In the first phase it is very similar to Atkins induction but
includes a few more foods, for example beans, nuts and seeds
in limited quantities. Other foods are phased in later.
South Beach is more restrictive in the types of fats consumed,
promoting monounsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil) and
minimizing saturated fats like butter.
The main difference in format between South Beach and Atkins
is that South Beach counts portions while Atkins counts grams
of net carbohydrates (subtracting fiber, which is not digested).
Other Low Carb Diets
There are many other low carb diets out there. Some of the
best known are Protein Power, the Sonoma diet and the Paleo
diet. Broadly speaking they follow the same principle which
is that restricting carbohydrates allows the body to go into
lipolysis or 'fat-burning' mode, resulting in weight loss.
At the same time there is plenty of fat consumed, which helps
people stick to the diet because they do not feel hungry, even
when calorie intake is relatively low.
So now for the big question: which is the best low carb diet?
The answer will lie with you to some extent. Low carb diets
do work provided you can keep to the rules. But think about
what suits your lifestyle or food preferences before you start.
Vegetarians will find the induction phase of Atkins difficult,
although it is possible as long as you eat both eggs and dairy
foods. South Beach is probably easier for vegetarians.
The gram-counting style of Atkins is good for people with
an analytical type of mind who like to know exactly where they
are with a diet. South Beach would be better for people who
would find carb-counting annoying and wouldn't actually do
it.
The
bottom line is this: the best low carb diet is the one
that you can stick to.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2010
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