Diet Information
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Weight Loss on Low Carb DietsLow Carb Diets Are High FashionThe best selling low carb diet book - Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution - has sold millions of copies. It has spawned a number of successful low-carb cookbooks, as well as various other competitors such as South Beach Diet. In addition, the low carb diet craze has boosted sales of numerous other older titles, such as Sugar Busters, Carbohydrate Addicts Diet and Zone Diet, and fuelled a nationwide demand for low carb recipes. Low Carb Results: Change of Eating Habits and Food OptionsAs a result of Dr Atkins recommendation that we drastically reduce our intake of starchy carbohydrates, sales of potatoes and other grains have been significantly reduced as millions of people adopt lower carb eating habits. In addition, scores of food companies have deluged us with carb-free foods, high protein bars and carb-free bread! Call it a fad diet or a diet revolution, Dr Atkins diet has certainly revolutionized the meals and snacks that many of us eat, especially if we want to reduce weight. Have Low Carb Diets Helped Us To Lose Weight?With such a turnaround in eating habits, from relatively high-carb to low carb, this is a good time to find out if low carb diet plans really work. Because what we are seeing is a huge test of Dr Atkins diet method. So, what are the weight loss results of all this low carbohydrate eating? Has America lost weight? Answer: it doesn't look like it. To our knowledge, no significant survey has revealed a noticeable reduction in weight. Furthermore, with Atkins Nutritionals, the company that promoted the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet, filing for bankruptcy protection in the United States, it seems the low carb craze is over. According to recent surveys, there has been an acute fall in demand for Atkins-type low-carb food products. Low Carb Diet Results: Anecdotal EvidenceAlmost every other dieter seems to have "done Atkins." Many did manage to lose weight. Unfortunately, they seem to have regained most or all of it when they got bored of Atkins-type diets and started eating more carbs. Which is why Weight Watchers, ediets, Jenny Craig, Anne Collins, and all the other weight loss companies are still doing good business. Healthy Carb Diets Now Center StageEven if demand for Atkins-type ketogenic diets has slumped, the consensus among most dietitians and nutritionists is that refined carbs (high in white flour, or high in refined sugars) should remain "occasional foods", and whole grains should comprise the majority of our starchy carbohydrate intake. Even the USDA's Dietary Guidelines For Americans (2005) recognizes this, by stating that "at least" 50 percent of the carbs we eat should be whole grains. Popularity of Low GI DietsMeantime, the medical profession is strongly advocating the adoption of eating plans based on the Glycemic Index (GI), both for better blood glucose management and obesity reduction. A diet containing mostly foods with a low-GI value helps to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Exactly what Dr Atkins diet approach had in mind, but without the long term health risks of eating insufficient carbohydrate. |
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