Low-carb diets

Email this page to a friend

Want news about Low-carb diets and more e-mailed to you? Click here for free email alerts

Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

The Problem with Low-Carb Diets One of the inherent problems with low-carb diets is that the term doesn't say much about what the rest of the diet includes. Besides being low in carbs, the diet could be high in either good or bad fats, protein, or vegetables. Always ask yourself what foods the diet is rich in—the more nutritious it is, the better. Protein, Blood Sugar, and Weight Protein is an essential nutrient and, aside from water, serves as the main constituent of our bodies.

The Big Fat Health and Fitness Lie Craig Pepin-Donat See book keywords and concepts

Low-carb diets are primarily high protein and high fat, and the average person with a weight problem should not be ingesting a high percentage of the food they consume in fat. Protein and fat are not nearly as good an energy source as carbohydrates. This is why most people who follow low-carb diets experience a dramatic drop in energy. It is hard to maintain an active lifestyle when you have no energy. That is why I like eating habits based on consuming a higher percentage of carbohydrates, which can be used for energy. You can never achieve sustained results when you try to trick your body.

This is another reason why low-carb diets are not good. At this stage the body is utilizing (depleting) stored glycogen. Cardio training is increased and strength training is focused on lighter weights and higher repetitions to accelerate the depletion process. If the training regimen and early stages of dieting were performed properly, the bodybuilder will look extremely lean at this stage, but the muscles don't yet have that full, cut look required for competition.

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain John J. Ratey, MD See book keywords and concepts

The rest of your plate should be balanced with whole grains, proteins, and dietary fats. low-carb diets may help you lose weight, but they're not good for your brain. Whole grains have complex carbohydrates that supply a steady flow of energy rather than the spike and crash of simple sugars, and they're necessary to transport amino acids such as tryptophan into the brain. As you learned in chapter 4, tryptophan is a precursor necessary for the production of serotonin, and it and other important amino acids come from protein.

Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

Why Protein Is Good for You With the popularity of high-protein, low-carb diets, food companies tried to capitalize by marketing hundreds of low-carb but highly processed foods, from pancake mixes to salad dressings. Most of these processed low-carb foods were not nutritionally sound, and many tasted awful. Not surprisingly, low-carb processed foods were a flop. When these products failed to sell, the processed food industry argued that the low-carb boom was over, perhaps hoping that people would go back to eating more profitable carbs.

Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Nuttall witnessed that fats don't raise blood glucose, something many patients don't realize; protein in low-carb diets aids the production of insulin and can lower the blood glucose; and highly refined starch foods strongly raise blood sugar and do so quickly (something that you, of course, now know). Frankly, Dr. Sinatra and I are mystified as to why this study, which was supported by grants from the American Diabetes Association and the Minnesota, Colorado, and Nebraska Beef Councils, didn't hit front pages all across America when first published in 2004.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

Rice is pretty much a no-no on low-carb diets because of its high glycemic impact—in general, rice raises blood sugar quickly, causing all sorts of problems for those concerned with diabetes and/or weight loss. The fiber in brown rice helps lower the glycemic index of some varieties, but still does not make it a low-glycemic food. So what's the best advice? If you eat rice, stick with whole grain. Forget about white, and definitely avoid "instant" rice. Consider using rice the way the Europeans and Asians do, as a small side dish, about the size of an ice cream scoop.

Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Indeed, after reviewing medical literature about low-carb diets, they discovered "every single aspect of metabolic syndrome could be improved just by restricting carbs," according to biochemist Richard Feinman, Ph.D., a professor at SUNY Downstate and founder/director of the Nutrition and Metabolism Society. Jeff Volek, Ph.D., R.D., lead researcher for the review paper Nutrition & Metabolism, expounded.

Superfoods Rx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients Wendy Bazilian, DRPH, MA, RD, Steven Pratt, MD, Kathy Matthews See book keywords and concepts

Many people also have found that low-carb diets made them feel poorly and lacking in energy and, at least partly for these reasons, are difficult if not impossible to stick with in the long term. The SuperFoodsRx Diet includes all the healthy, whole grain foods that your body needs to stay healthy as you steadily and permanently lose weight and inches. We think you will agree after learning about the power of these particular SuperFoods that losing weight is not necessarily about eating less; it's about eating smart.

Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Bear in mind that we're not talking about diets that drastically restrict carbs although, as you've no doubt heard, low-carb diets also can lead to weight loss.

Jay Robb launches The Fruit Flush 3-Day Detox Diet Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

Nearly everyone enjoys eating fresh fruit, so it's a far more enjoyable diet than, say, the Atkins or low-carb diets. It's also a diet rich in raw foods, and nutritional research over the last few years increasingly tells us that raw foods contain powerful medicinal compounds that have wide-ranging healing effects on the body. Added to this is the fact that most consumers simply don't eat sufficient quantities of fresh produce in their diets, so experiencing a fruit flush diet for a few days is an excellent way to boost your fruit intake and help nourish your body using nature's best options.

Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

In a major study, researchers at Harvard University found that high-protein, low-carb diets did not increase the risk of developing heart disease, compared with diets containing large amounts of carbohydrates. When the subjects included a fair amount of vegetable protein in their diets, their risk of developing heart disease actually went down. Still other research has shown that high-protein diets do not increase cholesterol or blood pressure. As we've explained, it's important to combine lean protein with a lot of vegetables for maximum health benefits.

The Big Fat Health and Fitness Lie Craig Pepin-Donat See book keywords and concepts

The Low-carb Lie To help you understand how low-carb diets work, I want to share a personal experience about what happened to me when I was fulfilling a dream of competing in several bodybuilding contests. Although in my 20s and early 30s I always trained hard and was in good physical shape, when I was 33 I lived the life of a bodybuilder for approximately two years. Keep in mind that I do not have the natural genetics of a bodybuilder and I have not spent my life pursuing the perfect physique.

This is why most people who follow low-carb diets experience a dramatic drop in energy. It is hard to maintain an active lifestyle when you have no energy. That is why I like eating habits based on consuming a higher percentage of carbohydrates, which can be used for energy. You can never achieve sustained results when you try to trick your body. The physiology of the human body is a heck of a lot smarter than all the people in the health, fitness and weight loss industries who try to come up with quick-fix schemes to separate you from your hard-earned money.

Walter Kempner, the Rice Diet Program is in stark contrast to current low-carb diets. It was originally created as an outpatient treatment and prevention program for people with major health issues such as coronary artery disease, coronary risk factors, diabetes, kidney disease and a variety of other health related issues. Many of these conditions are the result of obesity. Over the years, more and more people have chosen the Rice Diet Program as the best controlled environment to achieve results through supervision and education.

Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant Within You Andreas Moritz See book keywords and concepts

Thankfully, low-carb diets recently lost popularity with the public since the approach has been shown to put followers at a higher risk for clogged arteries, heart attack, and possibly colorectal cancer as well. Yes, Your Body Can Store Protein! Meat and meat products have 5 to 10 times the protein concentration of plant food proteins. Whereas you can easily overeat on animal protein, it is much less likely to overeat on proteins contained in vegetables, grains and nuts. The stomach would have to be at least five times larger to accommodate such large portions of food.

Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Diet with the 'Right Carbs' Seems to Boost Health: Low-Glycemic-Index Plan Is Better Than Low-Fat or low-carb diets, Study Says." HealthDay, August 26, 2004. http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=520863. Romieu, Isabelle, Eduardo Lazcano-Ponce, Luisa Maria Sanchez-Zamorano, Walter Willett, and Mauricio Hernandez-Avila. "Carbohydrates and the Risk of Breast Cancer among Mexican Women." Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 13 (2004): 1283-89. Samaha, Frederick F., Nayyar Iqbal, Prakash Seshadri, Kathryn L. Chicano, Denise A.

Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution: Turn Off the Genes That Are Killing You - And Your Waistline - And Drop the Weight for Good Dr. Steven R. Gundry See book keywords and concepts

Nor need you limit your intake of leafy green and other vegetables, as you do on most low-carb diets. All you need to remember is that the purpose of the Teardown phase is to convince your genetic programming that winter is not coming (it's here) and therefore your genes don't need to send out the "store fat" signal. Eating sugary and other high-carb foods convinces your genes that you've just encountered a fruit tree laden with sugary fruit, and as you've learned, that's the last message you want to transmit.

Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs Neal D. Barnard and Bryanna Clark Grogan See book keywords and concepts

They often bring short-term weight loss, but most of the weight quickly returns. low-carb diets also have wildly unpredictable health effects. In research studies, as many as one-third of low-carb dieters have shown a significant increase in LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Some have had such high cholesterol levels that they have been forced to drop out of studies. 87 What's more, low-carb diets are usually high in protein. The animal protein that is commonly emphasized in these diets can be hard on your kidneys.

Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Telling People What They Want to Believe: Dean Ornish Looks at Atkins and Other low-carb diets in Journal of the American Dietetic Association." Press release. http://www.eatright.org/Public/Media/PublicMedia_19241 .cfm. Atkins. "Dr. Atkins Timeline." http://atkins.com/atkinslegacy/atkinslegacytimeline.html. Atkins Exposed.org. Website devoted to unmasking "the truth" about the Atkins diet. Atkins, Robert. Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution. New York: Avon, 1992. Atkins, Veronica. "Statement on Atkins' Death." USA Today, February 10, 2004. Austin, Denise. Fit and Fabulous After 40.

Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 Bottom Line Health See book keywords and concepts

Atkins and other low-carb diets include a hefty portion of omega-6s, which can create health risks and may contribute to chronic brain inflammation, setting the stage for brain impairment. What to do: Eat one serving per day of ome-ga-3s—found in high-fat fish, such as salmon and tuna, and in avocados, olive oil, nuts and other foods. Also consider a daily supplement of 1,000 milligrams (mg) of fish oil. •Fight free radicals. Free radicals, the cell-damaging byproducts of metabolism, are always present in the body, including the brain, causing cells to lose structure and function.

Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Reuters.com. "Low-Carb Diets Get New Year's Boost—Survey." http://www.reuters.com/newsArti-cle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=7371408. Schwarzbein, Diana, and Marilyn Brown. The Schwarzbein Principle II: The Transition. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, 2002. Sears, Barry. Enter the Zone. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. Sharp, David. "Bread Industry Changing Its Recipe for Success." Associated Press, February. 14, 2005. Smith, Kathy. Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight. With Robert Miller. New York: Warner Books, 2001. Stafford, Margaret.

Living the Low Carb Life: Controlled Carbohydrate Eating for Long-Term Weight Loss Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

Low-carb dieting did not begin with Atkins! low-carb diets actually date back to 1864, when William Banting wrote his famous Letter on Corpulence (in essence the very first commercial low-carb diet). But Banting's diet wasn't known as a "low-carb" plan; in fact, there was no such label until the USDA decreed in its 1992 food pyramid that the perfect healthy diet for Americans includes six to eleven servings of grains and starches per day.

Best Choices From the People's Pharmacy Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Populations on low-carb diets that don't make blood sugar rise quickly may be less prone to blemishes. Your daughter might try avoiding foods like candy, cookies, french fries, potato chips, sugar, and white flour to see if it helps her complexion. • • • Not all dermatologists have welcomed this new look at the possible role of diet. The epidemiological comparison suggesting that diet might be relevant in the development of acne triggered a series of comments under titles such as "Diet and Acne Revisited" and "The Unwelcome Return of the Acne Diet.

Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs Neal D. Barnard and Bryanna Clark Grogan See book keywords and concepts

Most had tried many different diets: low-calorie diets, low-carb diets, Weight Watchers, the cabbage-soup diet, and just about everything else. Like most people, they had found these diets tough to follow, and whatever weight they lost soon returned. Our approach was very different. It did not include calorie counting, limits on portions or carbohydrates, or even an exercise prescription. For research purposes, we wanted to isolate the effects of diet. The participants lost weight easily, averaging about 1 pound per week—week after week after week.

Living the Low Carb Life: Controlled Carbohydrate Eating for Long-Term Weight Loss Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

The point is that low-carb does not necessarily equal high-protein, and the Stillman diet is Exhibit A in making the case that all low-carb diets are not the same. Atkins, Yudkin, and the Question of Sugar By 1970, the Keys research had been published and was being picked up by the media; the low- or no-cholesterol brigade was gearing up for an assault on the consciousness of the American public. In 1972, Robert Atkins published the first edition of the New Diet Revolution, the Cadillac of low-carb diet plans, which became the de facto poster child for the low-carb movement two decades later.

This is what the low-carb diets that stress ketosis are talking about when they speak of changing from a sugar-burning metabolism to a fat-burning metabolism. Ketones are the by-product of fat breakdown. Ketosis—which happens when there are enough of these ketones to be detectable in the urine—is a topic of such misunderstanding, controversy, and criticism that it will get a much fuller discussion in chapter 5. For now, let's just say that this process is a part of normal metabolism and is not— I repeat, not—dangerous. Ketosis is not necessary for weight loss.

When you get those concerns addressed, you may want to go back to chapter 2, Why low-carb diets Work, to read more about the science behind low-carb eating and how it actually does its good work in the body. The permutations are endless. I also expect that there will be some dyed-in-the-wool low-carbers who have already experienced a myriad of health benefits, including weight loss, and simply want some tips for staying motivated, not getting bored, finding new things to eat, or breaking plateaus.

Grocery Warning: How to recognize and avoid the groceries that cause cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other common diseases Mike Adams See book keywords and concepts

MSG risks are even higher for low-carb dieters One of the more startling facts about MSG has special relevance for those on low-carb diets: MSG has been shown to be more damaging in the absence of dietary glucose. In other words, a diet high in carbohydrates and sugars helps moderate the negative effects of MSG. But a diet low in carbohydrates apparently allows MSG to do its worst damage: When rats were fed glucose plus large amounts of MSG, the amount of brain damage seen was considerably less than when glucose was denied. This has also been shown in cell cultures.

Living the Low Carb Life: Controlled Carbohydrate Eating for Long-Term Weight Loss Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

Living the Low-Carb Life will help you understand three things: 1. what low-carb diets actually do to and for your body and how they do it 2. why some programs work for some people (and don't for others) 3. how you can adapt what you discover in this book to your own lifestyle While I'd love to think that everyone who reads this book will devour it from cover to cover (for its scintillating content and wealth of information), realistically I know that, with the possible exception of my girlfriend and my mother, few people will approach it that way.

page 1 of 2 | Next ->

FAIR USE NOTICE: The research quoted here is provided under the protection of Fair Use provisions and published by the 501(c)3 non-profit Consumer Wellness Center for the purposes of public comment and education. Authors / publishers may submit books for consideration of inclusion here.

TERMS OF USE: Read full terms of use. Citations of text from NaturalPedia must include: 1) Full credit to the original author and book title. 2) Secondary credit to the Natural News Naturalpedia as a research resource and a link to www.NaturalNews.com/np/index.html

This unique compilation of research is copyright (c) 2008 by the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center.

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF NATURALPEDIA: Mike Adams, the creator of this NaturalNews Naturalpedia, is the editor of NaturalNews.com, the internet's top natural health news site, creator of the Honest Food Guide (www.HonestFoodGuide.org), a free downloadable consumer food guide based on natural health principles, author of Grocery Warning, The 7 Laws of Nutrition, Natural Health Solutions, and many other books available at www.TruthPublishing.com, creator of the earth-friendly EcoLEDs company (www.EcoLEDs.com) that manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products, founder of Arial Software (www.ArialSoftware.com), a permission e-mail technology company, creator of the CounterThink Cartoon series (www.NaturalNews.com/index-cartoons.html) and author of over 1,500 articles, interviews, special reports and reference guides available at www.NaturalNews.com. Adams' personal philosophy and health statistics are available at www.HealthRanger.org.