Low carb diets are just like any new diet concept.  When they reach people through marketing, people become obsessed with the new concept.  People are obsessed with diets, and low carb diets are no exception.  Now that they have been around for a while, there is now some question as to if low carb diets are actually safe.

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• Low Carb versus Low Calorie Diets
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Low Carb Diets do Work

Low carb diets have become very popular because of their quick weight loss results.  Some of the more popular low carb diets include:  Atkins, South Beach, Sonoma, Protein Power, and Zone Diet.    Low carb diets have quick weight loss results in the first six months, even without the hassles of counting calories.

People tend to do better by eliminating or avoiding a specific food group rather than counting calories.  People automatically cut down on calories when they eliminate or avoid a specific type of food.

According to nutrition expert Arne Astrup, MD, PhD, in a Web MD article “Low-carb diets work not because they are low in carbs, but because they are high in protein.”   Therefore, low carb diets do work because of that increase in protein .

National Nutritional Recommendations

National nutritional recommendations show that adults should receive 50 to 60 percent of their calories from carbohydrates.  Foods that are high in carbohydrates include:  bread, pasta, cereals, and rice, as well as fruits and vegetables.  If you are incorporating a low carb diet into your routine, then you are likely not including these foods in, which will not give you the recommended carbohydrates.

Low Carb Diets – But, Are they Safe?

There has been some controversy on whether these types of diets are safe.  It has been shown that they can help you lose weight quickly, but is this type of weight loss healthy?

The controversy lies in the possible short and long term health issues that cutting out whole food groups can cause, as well as increasing protein and saturated fat as the main source of calories.   It really depends on the type of low carb diet you follow as to what types of health risks are possible.  For example, the Atkins Diet can increase the “bad” LDL cholesterol and reduce the function of your blood vessels.  It has also been said that low carb diets can affect a person’s memory function.

Women need to protect their bone health.  Women should be sure to include some type of calcium supplement when they are on a low carb diet.  Also, they should perform weight bearing activities that will strengthen their bones.  Women who are pregnant or would like to become pregnant should stay away from low carb diets.  Carbohydrates are critical to your baby’s health.

While low carb diets have been shown to work quickly in the first few months to a year, they are too restrictive to be on for an extended amount of time.  Your diet should include good carbohydrates.  This is the problem with low carb diets.  In the long run, your body will not get enough fruits and vegetables, which will make your body deficient in fiber and vitamins necessary for optimum health.

Therefore, low carb diets do work, but it is not one that should be on for an extended period of time.  According to Astrup, “If you simply increase your intake of lean meat from fish, poultry, pork, beef, and the lean dairy products, which could quite easily be incorporated into a delicious, palatable diet, and you will eat fewer calories," he says. "We think it necessary to get the benefits of Atkins, the high protein, but at the same time to get more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains."

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