Low Carb Diets. So what's all the fuss about?

You may have heard the terms carb diets, no carb diets, and high carb diets and be wondering which in the heck is the right approach? High carb diets are obviously the opposite of low car diets and are said to be more beneficial by some experts, which does absolutely nothing to help the poor dieter choose which direction to go in.

Ok, let's keep it simple here and focus on the popularity of carb diets which in this case refers to reducing the amount of carbs you consume. It's true that many of the longest lasting diet crazes in recent years have been these carb diets. Atkins was probably the most popular, but South Beach and others have gained in popularity. While these are not as popular as they once were, they are still used by many dieters. The basic idea of carb diets is that if you reduce your carb intake, your body will have to resort to using proteins and burning stored fat for energy. This type of diet is said to stop the cycle of storing carbs and sugars as body fat, which can be a huge problem for some people.

Carb diets can be dangerous if not done correctly. It is never advisable to start any of the carb diets, or any diet for that matter, without talking to your doctor. There may be risks you may not be aware of, and certain medical conditions may make it impossible for you to follow one of the carb diets without some sort of unhealthy side effect.

When I first heard of Atkins, they advertised all the foods you could eat on their plan. Eggs, steak, and hard cheeses were among the foods that you could eat. Many people dove into this diet with great delight, without bothering to read up on the particulars of the diet. As with all carb diets, you have to watch your fat intake. Eating tons of greasy steaks, and foods fried in fat, will clog your arteries. These carb diets don’t actually say you can do this, but many don’t realize this. In most cases, you need to choose lean meats, watch the grease, and take in carbs in the form of veggies.

I have to be honest here and say that I went on the Atkins diet for 12 months. It worked, and it worked fast, but many around me said I looked gaunt and unwell, and that it was not natural to loose so much weight so quickly. Still happy with the 'new me' I continued regardless until I saw a disturbing documentary on the BBC about the potential problems with the low carb diets for some folks. This doesn't mean I'm now condoning carb diets, it just means that my conception of them was influenced by this one particular program. I encourage anyone, to do extensive research before embarking on any carb diet so that you can make your own informed decision based on the pros and cons of such a drastic change in your eating habits.

However, you don’t have to follow one of the mainstream carb diets in order to benefit from the idea behind them. You can cut carbs from your own diet, and make healthier choices without falling headlong into a fad diet. Take some time to learn the difference between what are considered good carbs and bad carbs. Good carbs include fruits and veggies, and whole wheat breads and cereals. Bad carbs are mostly refined sugars and white breads. Carb diets urge you to take the natural approach, eat more protein and stay away from refined and processed foods. This is pretty good advice for anyone, but as I stated earlier, you should talk to your doctor about the particulars, and make sure you are healthy enough to follow the diet you have in mind.

Carb diets may never go away, and with good reason. Many have lost weight on them, and continue to keep that weight off. Just remember to get all the information you can, and talk to your doctor before you begin. You may even want to join a community or online weight loss program to keep you motivated and on the right track.