Low Carbohydrate Diet

There seems to be an abundance of low carbohydrate diet plans in the media today. Each plan has its differences but a few things remain the same. All low carb diets eliminate sugars, white flour and white rice. All of them recommend eating whole foods instead of processed foods. They all also offer a balance of nutritious foods. Contrary to popular belief, low carbohydrate diets are not "no carbohydrate" diets. Vegetables and fruits are always recommended in generous amounts along with lean sources of protein. The following article will give you more information on low carb diets.

Benefits of a Low Carbohydrate Diet

While they do have their critics, low carb diets, also known as low glycemic diets, have numerous benefits. Here are just a few:

• Reduces triglyceride and cholesterol levels
• Increases HDL cholesterol (the good kind)
• Reduces blood glucose levels
• Reduces blood insulin levels
• Lowers blood pressure

One study even said that a low carbohydrate diet is "a patient-empowering way to ameliorate hyperglycemia without pharmacological intervention." In plain English, that means that a patient can improve his blood glucose levels without medications by following this type of diet. Of course, you will always want a doctor's supervision before starting any diet, especially if you have health problems. However, the evidence is very encouraging.

Diet Plans

There really are numerous plans that advocate following a low carb way of eating. More about each diet in detail can be found by reading related LoveToKnow articles and by visiting the websites that endorse each diet. Listed here are a few that you have probably heard of:

• The Atkins Diet--One of the first low carb diet plans, the Atkins Diet was first introduced in 1972. Dr. Atkins taught a philosophy on nutrition that includes restricting processed foods and includes nutrient-rich whole foods and nutritional supplements.

• Protein Power-- This diet first came out in 1995 and restricts all refined carbohydrates. These types of carbohydrates are processed just as sugar is by the body, therefore causing an imbalance of blood sugar. Health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity can be triggered by this imbalance.

• Sugar Busters--This plan also came out in 1995. It teaches that, by balancing blood sugar levels, you can lose weight and be healthy. This is done by consuming high fiber vegetables, lean meats and unsaturated fats.

• The Zone--Popular since 1996, this plan is different that Atkins in that it has you follow an eating ratio of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fat.

• Insulin Resistance Diet-- This plan made its debut in 2001 and is based on the belief that carbohydrates are addictive and cause your body to produce too much insulin. This diet helps you to control your insulin to lose weight.

Helpful Books

Follow a balanced eating plan.

If you are interested in learning more about these plans the best thing to do is read the book! A great deal of information can be found online, but to understand all the details of each plan you really need to read the book first. All of these books can be found at Amazon.com, but if you are not ready to commit just yet, try your local library. Even a used book store or yard sale may yield good results. If you are ready to buy the books, just follow these links:

• The Atkins Diet

• Protein Power

• Sugar Busters

• The Zone

• The Insulin Resistance Diet

• The South Beach Diet

Conclusion

Remember, these diets all endorse eating plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables. These are not high fat, meat only diets. Some plans may have restrictive phases in which your choice of foods is very limited, but these phases are brief, with some plans considering them optional phases. Use common sense when starting a new diet to be sure that it is based on healthy, balanced eating instead of some fad diet and you will find success.