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Low Carb Weight Loss Plans: Atkins Diet, South Beach And High Protein Diets
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Published: April 12, 2007
It's no wonder we live in such a health-crazed society. There are zillions of weight loss plans and diets, and each diet has various ramifications on the dieter's health. It's hard to know what is good, and what is bad. Fads like low carb diets are particularly popular today. Before beginning a new diet, it's important to consult a physician and to know how low carb meals, high protein diets, and other weight loss plans will affect one's body and one's health.
Carbohydrates are essential to every well-balanced diet, and convert easily to energy. Like in everything, there are good carbs and bad carbs. As everyone knows, fruits and vegetables are good for any diet, and they are necessary in weight loss plans. In addition to their natural sugars, they also contain good carbs. Likewise, whole grains and potatoes contain good carbohydrates, and the starch in them contributes to the majority of our energy.
The latest fads in weight loss plans such as the Atkins Diet and South Beach Diet are low carb diets. Low carb diets are not unhealthy per se, but it's still necessary to consume carbs. High protein, low carb diets remove most fruits and vegetables from the diet, leaving a diet of mostly meats. In the Atkins Diet, low carb meals allow people to indulge in rich, high protein foods like bacon, eggs, and burgers, and only a few vegetables. These low carb foods force the body to burn fat for energy.
Dieters following the Atkins Diet lose weight quickly, but they can only stay on it for a short time, and when they return to normal, healthy weight loss plans, they quickly regain the weight. When the Atkins Diet first made an appearance, the President of the American College of Nutrition said, “Of all the bizarre diets that have been proposed in the last 50 years, this is the most dangerous to the public if followed for any length of time." It's okay to cut out some carbs, but the first concern when starting any diet is health, and the Atkins diet is a very low carb diet, which is unhealthy.
The South Beach Diet takes a slightly different approach, emphasizing good carbs, and good fats. This diet has three parts, all of which are geared towards minimizing bad fats. For each of the three phases, different foods are allowed. For instance, Phase 1 allows some vegetables, but no fruits. Fruits and whole grain foods are reintroduced during Phase 2. Phase 3 is a maintenance phase, allowing more fruits and whole grains. Though the South Beach diet is also low carb, it is slightly more balanced.
Low carb meals can include grilled filet mignon au poivre, roasted crab cakes, and grilled chicken breast. To complete these low carb meals, just add a few veggies and get ready to start a healthier diet. It's also important to remember that often the weight lost initially from these diets is just water weight, and it might be regained easily.
This isn't meant to suggest that all low carb weight loss plans are bad. In fact, cutting out some carbs is an efficient way to lose weight. It's just important to be careful so as to not negatively effect one's health. Just remember, anytime a new diet is started - be it a high protein, low carb diet, or any other weight loss plan - it's important to consult a physician.
Sources:
Atkins ‘Nightmare' Diet. Atkinsexposed.org. 2004. 11 April 2007. http://www.atkinsexposed.org/.
Grayson, Charlotte E. “The Atkins Diet: What It Is.” WebMD. June 2005. 11 April 2007.
http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/7/3220_136.ht m
Grayson, Charlotte E. “The South Beach Diet: What It Is.” WebMD. June 2005.11 April 2007.
http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/15/96038.htm< br />High Protein “Miracle” Diets. VegSource.com. 2007. 11 April 2007..
http://www.vegsource.com/articles/high.protein.h tm
Reviewing The South Beach Diet. Healthy Weight Forum. 2003. 11 April 2007.
http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/diets/sout h_beach_diet/
Carbohydrates are essential to every well-balanced diet, and convert easily to energy. Like in everything, there are good carbs and bad carbs. As everyone knows, fruits and vegetables are good for any diet, and they are necessary in weight loss plans. In addition to their natural sugars, they also contain good carbs. Likewise, whole grains and potatoes contain good carbohydrates, and the starch in them contributes to the majority of our energy.
The latest fads in weight loss plans such as the Atkins Diet and South Beach Diet are low carb diets. Low carb diets are not unhealthy per se, but it's still necessary to consume carbs. High protein, low carb diets remove most fruits and vegetables from the diet, leaving a diet of mostly meats. In the Atkins Diet, low carb meals allow people to indulge in rich, high protein foods like bacon, eggs, and burgers, and only a few vegetables. These low carb foods force the body to burn fat for energy.
Dieters following the Atkins Diet lose weight quickly, but they can only stay on it for a short time, and when they return to normal, healthy weight loss plans, they quickly regain the weight. When the Atkins Diet first made an appearance, the President of the American College of Nutrition said, “Of all the bizarre diets that have been proposed in the last 50 years, this is the most dangerous to the public if followed for any length of time." It's okay to cut out some carbs, but the first concern when starting any diet is health, and the Atkins diet is a very low carb diet, which is unhealthy.
The South Beach Diet takes a slightly different approach, emphasizing good carbs, and good fats. This diet has three parts, all of which are geared towards minimizing bad fats. For each of the three phases, different foods are allowed. For instance, Phase 1 allows some vegetables, but no fruits. Fruits and whole grain foods are reintroduced during Phase 2. Phase 3 is a maintenance phase, allowing more fruits and whole grains. Though the South Beach diet is also low carb, it is slightly more balanced.
Low carb meals can include grilled filet mignon au poivre, roasted crab cakes, and grilled chicken breast. To complete these low carb meals, just add a few veggies and get ready to start a healthier diet. It's also important to remember that often the weight lost initially from these diets is just water weight, and it might be regained easily.
This isn't meant to suggest that all low carb weight loss plans are bad. In fact, cutting out some carbs is an efficient way to lose weight. It's just important to be careful so as to not negatively effect one's health. Just remember, anytime a new diet is started - be it a high protein, low carb diet, or any other weight loss plan - it's important to consult a physician.
Sources:
Atkins ‘Nightmare' Diet. Atkinsexposed.org. 2004. 11 April 2007. http://www.atkinsexposed.org/.
Grayson, Charlotte E. “The Atkins Diet: What It Is.” WebMD. June 2005. 11 April 2007.
http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/7/3220_136.ht m
Grayson, Charlotte E. “The South Beach Diet: What It Is.” WebMD. June 2005.11 April 2007.
http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/15/96038.htm< br />High Protein “Miracle” Diets. VegSource.com. 2007. 11 April 2007..
http://www.vegsource.com/articles/high.protein.h tm
Reviewing The South Beach Diet. Healthy Weight Forum. 2003. 11 April 2007.
http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/diets/sout h_beach_diet/
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