Low-carb Diets: Fad, Fallacy, or Fact?

The most common and popular diet fad over the past two years has undoubtedly been the low-carb diet. It has many followers, both in the U.K. and the U.S.A., and its various celebrity endorsements, particularly of the most renowned version, The Atkins Diet, have undoubtedly played a large part in its popularity. Is it merely another fad diet designed to hook the diet junkies amongst us and deliver more opportunities for the food manufacturers to create another new product in response to the "demand"? Or could it be that it is actually a healthy and effective way of losing and controlling weight?

The whole concept of a "diet" is, of course a false one, perpetuated in order to keep the "diet industry" in profit and playing on our insecurities and gullibility. The word diet simply means the food that is customarily eaten on a daily basis. People living in less developed countries and living on a subsistence diet would be totally baffled by the notion that a "diet" is a means of eating less in order to lose weight! However, in the greedy and overfed western world, we either fail to grasp that we eat too much for our needs, or we lack the self control to eat less. Furthermore, we are inundated with opportunities to eat delicious tempting treats at comparatively low cost, and these items are often those with the highest calorie content.

Many studies have shown that reducing our carbohydrate intake is not only an effective way to control weight but also has a part to play in reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, the incidence of which has shown a worrying increase in recent years. It would be a fairly simple step merely to reduce the amount of carbs (bread, rice, potatoes, for example) that we eat on a daily basis. Over time, we would undoubtedly lose weight.

From the point of view of our long-term health however, we need to take a more scientific approach and look at carbohydrates in terms of "good" and "bad" ones. The most commonly consumed carbohydrates in the western world, and particularly the U.K. and U.S.A. are the simple or refined carbohydrates. These include sugar, white flour, potatoes, white rice and products manufactured from these ingredients. They are generally low in fibre and nutrients.

On the other hand, the range of complex carbohydrates, which includes whole grains, many fruits and vegetables, beans and pulses are generally high in fibre and nutrients and can make a valuable contribution to our health and well being. It would be misguided to eliminate these "good" carbohydrates from our diet in the interests of short-term weight loss. Surely it is better to adapt our way of eating on a permanent basis, to one which includes a range of complex carbohydrates, among other elements, and if necessary to just eat less?

Jon Davis gives you the Low Down on Low Carb foods, diets & recipes, so you can make your own intelligent well formed decisions using http://www.LowCarb-LowDown.com

---

Childhood Obesity Is Everyones Problem

Reducing childhood obesity in the U.S. needs to be a... Read More

Can You Still Buy Ephedra?

With millions of people aiming for successful weight loss, many... Read More

Spot Reducing is For The Laundry

· Can you give me an exercise that will get... Read More

Taking Control of Your Cellulite

Cellulite happens to us for many reasons. Some reasons-- like... Read More

The Tao of Weight Watchers Part One

Weight Watchers inspired me to change my eating habits, lose... Read More

Walking, Water, and Weight Watchers: The 3 W?s for Weight Loss

I have been seriously working on losing weight for about... Read More

Weight Loss: Are You Frustrated? Have Low Energy? Dont Feel Good about Yourself? Lose Weight Now!

Twenty years of health club consulting, 50,000 hours of paid... Read More

How Does Phentermine Work? Learn Pros & Cons Of Phentermine For Weight Loss

Phentermine, like many other prescription drugs, works with chemicals called... Read More

Dieting Tips

Some of my dieting tips are not conventional. You can... Read More

Losing Weight is Like Eating Ice Cream

"Life is like a box of chocolates," drawled Forrest Gump.Metaphors... Read More

When Emotional Eating Becomes an Eating Disorder

More and more people are starting to recognize that they... Read More

Winning at Post-Partum Weight Loss: Six Simple Strategies for New Moms ? Part 1

A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now... Read More

Weight Loss Diets with Negative Calorie Foods

Negative calorie foods are said to use more calories to... Read More

Conquer Those Carbohydrate Cravings

Are you a hopeless carbohydrate addict? Let's conquer these cravings... Read More

Diet Pills And Safe Weight Loss: A Quick Guide To Diet Pills

Serious diet pills are intended for people who are overweight... Read More

Doubts About Gastric Bypass? One Womans Final Effort to Lose Weight Without Surgery

One may think that on a website called "LivingAfterWLS" you... Read More

The Effect Of A Low Carb Diet On Your Insulin Level

The underlying principles of low carb diets are based on... Read More

Weight Loss: Its Not About the Numbers, Its Your Approach!

Today obesity, diabetes, and heart disease run through us at... Read More

The Right Way to Eat for Better Health and Weight Loss

Did you know that how and when you eat is... Read More

Weight Loss Options -- Infrared Radiant Heat Saunas (IR Saunas)

Infrared Radiant Heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that... Read More

Criteria to Consider When Selecting a Bariatric Surgery Center

According to the American College of Surgeons, most severely obese... Read More

Glucagon and Aging - Breakfast How Not To Start The Day Part III

A question from one of our readers:Dr. Mericle,With respect to... Read More

Struggling with Weight? ? Get a Dog

Just about every one of us struggles with our weight... Read More

The Public Stoning of Gastric Bypass Patients: When Things Get Ugly

Recently a woman went public in her online diet community... Read More

Burn Fat Not Sugar!

You are going to be pleasantly surprised! Most people think... Read More

A Startling Fact About Losing Dangerous Belly Fat -- Without Exercise

The story broke in the international press on October 4th,... Read More

A Before and After Look at Tummy Tucks

If you have a protruding abdomen, loose skin as a... Read More

Dieters : Questions You Must Ask Yourself when You Want to Lose Weight

Now I know you're always asking yourself questions.You know the... Read More

Gastro-Physics And Dietary Anti-Matter

Do a little people-watching, next time you're in the grocery... Read More

Is Diet Confusion Stopping You From Losing Weight?

Diet advice ? a million "experts", hundreds of snake-oil miracle... Read More

Medical Conditions That Inhibit Weight Loss

Weight loss can be a difficult goal to achieve. Some... Read More

Have You Tried These Weight Loss Tips?

The following are weight loss tips that you can start... Read More

Fitness Resolutions

The holidays are now officially over and it's time to... Read More