You’ve heard of low carb fad diets, but you’re not sure if they work. Before you commit yourself to the latest low carb fad diet, you’ll want to check out the scientific evidence behind these weight loss plans.
Low carb diet plans are based on the idea that you will lose weight if you limit or cut out all carbs from your diet. The trustworthy premise behind this diet plan is that a low carb diet keeps your blood sugar low—ask any diabetic—and therefore decreases your body’s production of insulin. High levels of insulin in your blood stream can result in your body storing excess calories as fat. As a result, people lose weight when they start a low carb diet plan. The bad news is these plans claim dieters can lose weight without limiting calories or portions. The concept that you can eat as much as you want (as long as it’s low or no carb) and still lose weight was recently challenged by a study commissioned by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The study measured the success rates of 800 adults on a variety of diet plans, including low carb diets. The study concluded that caloric intake was the primary determinant of long term weight loss, meaning you do indeed need to limit calories (or burn off the equivalent of calories) if you want to lose weight. Low carb fad diet plans also don’t account for dealing with cravings that come up. Because your body needs carbs, you will find yourself fighting cravings, making it very difficult to remain on this diet plan for the long term. Many low carb dieters complain that they don’t have enough energy to do everyday activities. It’s very difficult to exercise when you have no energy. If you don’t eat carbs, it’s very challenging to perform well athletically. You may need to sneak in a few carbs in order to exercise, which is essential for muscle tone. Now that you know the story on low carb fad diets, you can make the choice whether or not this diet is right for you.