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