Many people who are aiming to lose weight put great emphasis on
reducing their carbohydrate intake. Some even try to cut carbs from
their diet altogether. Question is, is this an effective way of losing
weight? And more important, is it healthy? Lets try and answer some
questions.
What Exactly Are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates provide our body with energy, and come in the form of sugars and starches. They can be divided into 2 groups, simple and complex carbohydrates. You will find the simple kind in white bread & pasta, fruit and dairy products.
Complex carbohydrates are found in brown bread & pasta and vegetables. Complex carbs are better at providing longer lasting energy because they take longer to digest.
What Foods Contain No Carbohydrates?
There are very few truly zero carb foods.
Most unprocessed meat and fish have no carbohydrates (processed meat will have carbs added during the process). Then there are eggs and cheeses like cheddar, camembert & mozzarella as well as salad vegetables like lettuce, celery & cucmber which are all very low carb foods.
So How Does A Low Carb Diet Work In Practice?
By starving your body of enough carbohydrates to fuel its vital functions, your body is forced to use stores of excess fat as the main energy source, and thus leads to weight loss.
The problem with this technique is that some organs, like the brain, cannot use fat as an energy source. They need carbohydrates and without them the body has to produce a substitute fuel to keep them going, called "Ketone Bodies". This leaves the person suffering from a condition called "Ketosis", symptoms of which are nausea, fatigue and foul breath.
Sounds Scary, So Why Are These Diets Popular?
Going low carb short term is one way that celebrities lose weight in time for a public event, but they do not go on such diets permanently. Even the famous Atkins diet, a pioneer of low carb dieting, no longer makes it compulsory to stay on the low carb diet for a long period. In short, a no/low carbohydrate diet is similar to a crash diet - it's a quick fix that some people rely on for rapid weight loss.
Should I Consider Low Carb Dieting?
If you are eating too many carbohydrates, then there is nothing wrong with cutting down on them as part of a healthy diet. Going low carb the way these types of diet promote however will put an undue strain on the rest of your body, not to mention starve your brain of its primary source of energy. And as these diets tend to result in a cycle of rapid weight loss followed by weight gain, they are not a healthy way to achieve long term weight loss.
What Exactly Are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates provide our body with energy, and come in the form of sugars and starches. They can be divided into 2 groups, simple and complex carbohydrates. You will find the simple kind in white bread & pasta, fruit and dairy products.
Complex carbohydrates are found in brown bread & pasta and vegetables. Complex carbs are better at providing longer lasting energy because they take longer to digest.
What Foods Contain No Carbohydrates?
There are very few truly zero carb foods.
Most unprocessed meat and fish have no carbohydrates (processed meat will have carbs added during the process). Then there are eggs and cheeses like cheddar, camembert & mozzarella as well as salad vegetables like lettuce, celery & cucmber which are all very low carb foods.
So How Does A Low Carb Diet Work In Practice?
By starving your body of enough carbohydrates to fuel its vital functions, your body is forced to use stores of excess fat as the main energy source, and thus leads to weight loss.
The problem with this technique is that some organs, like the brain, cannot use fat as an energy source. They need carbohydrates and without them the body has to produce a substitute fuel to keep them going, called "Ketone Bodies". This leaves the person suffering from a condition called "Ketosis", symptoms of which are nausea, fatigue and foul breath.
Sounds Scary, So Why Are These Diets Popular?
Going low carb short term is one way that celebrities lose weight in time for a public event, but they do not go on such diets permanently. Even the famous Atkins diet, a pioneer of low carb dieting, no longer makes it compulsory to stay on the low carb diet for a long period. In short, a no/low carbohydrate diet is similar to a crash diet - it's a quick fix that some people rely on for rapid weight loss.
Should I Consider Low Carb Dieting?
If you are eating too many carbohydrates, then there is nothing wrong with cutting down on them as part of a healthy diet. Going low carb the way these types of diet promote however will put an undue strain on the rest of your body, not to mention starve your brain of its primary source of energy. And as these diets tend to result in a cycle of rapid weight loss followed by weight gain, they are not a healthy way to achieve long term weight loss.
To learn about a great weight loss diet program which would help you lose weight fast and keep it off visit this link.
For all your weight loss tips, news and reviews on the best weight loss programs visit my Lose Weight Now Info blog. It's time to take control of your weight and if many thousands can do it so can you! Weight Loss Aids
For all your weight loss tips, news and reviews on the best weight loss programs visit my Lose Weight Now Info blog. It's time to take control of your weight and if many thousands can do it so can you! Weight Loss Aids
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