Just What Is A Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan?

Low carbohydrate diet plans have been around for a long time. They can be a healthy choice and they do work well for some people. The various low carbohydrate diet plans are largely quite similar to one another, with some slight variations.

The number one premise of all of them is simply restricting carbohydrates, most particularly complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are found in sugars and processed foods. If it is white or made from something white then do not eat it. Let’s look at three popular low-carb diet plans.

Atkins, is a low-carb diet plan that has been around for several decades. With this diet, one counts and restricts carbs without much worry about where their allowed carbs come from. This diet is the “meat lovers” diet with unlimited access to anything meat. That white stuff mentioned before, sugars and refined grains are off limits.

The early phase of the diet severely restricts carbs. As the diet progresses, carbs are gradually added as long as weight loss is still occurring. Once the weight loss goal has been reached the diet allows for additional carbs to be added up to the point where and weight gain occurs. Then the dieter knows they have reached their personal carb limit.

The South Beach Diet has also been around for some time and is much like the Atkins diet, but it restricts saturated fats as well as carbs. Phase 1 restricts saturated fats (animal fats) and most carbs severely. As the diet, progresses additional carbs and very small amounts of saturated fats are allowed.

This phase continues as long as the dieter wants to be losing weight. As with Atkins, when the weight loss goal is achieved more carbs are added to the point where any weight gain occurs. Then the dieter has realized their personal carb limit.

The Paleo Diet, also called the “caveman diet” is a bit different from the two diets mentioned above. This diet is based upon what scientists believe the eating habits of our very early ancestors would have been. Scientists believe that those foods consisted of animal protein, from wild game, up to 6 pounds of greens per day as well as smaller amounts of nuts and fruit.

The modern version of the Paleo Diet allows for no processed foods, no added sugars, and very small amounts of legumes, whole grains, dairy, or additives. As well, the diet disallows for any tubers, like potatoes. On the Paleo diet, one eats meat, fish, most types of vegetables and smaller amounts of fruits and nuts.

The animal protein consumed should come from animals that ate naturally fed, for example, beef should grass fed, etc. This requirement for naturally fed animals stems from the fact that those animals have higher levels of Omega 3 fats (good fats) and lower levels of saturated fats (bad fats). There are no phases or calorie restrictions for this diet, just eat like a caveman and exercise like a caveman.

 

 

 

 

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