Low Carb Diets - Is One Right For You?

Low carbohydrate diets have taken the country by storm! When followed correctly, scientifically sound diets such as Atkins and South Beach have helped thousands win their battle of the bulge. From simply shedding a few unwanted pounds to reversing obesity, hypertension, and risks of diabetes; low carb diets have proven their value to dieters and doctors alike.

Not only do low carbohydrate diets help folks lose weight, they can also improve overall health, control hypertension and reduce your risk for diabetes. Briefly, here’s how they work…

The body burns both carbohydrates and fat as fuel. Carbohydrate is the first fuel metabolized. When you sufficiently cut down your carbohydrate consumption, your body begins to burn fat as the primary energy source. This results in weight loss.

Insulin plays an important role here as well. A lifetime of excessive carbohydrates can cause your pancreas to overproduce insulin. This hormone transports glucose (blood sugar) to your cells, where its used for immediate energy, or stored as fat. Since your body only requires so much energy, higher levels of insulin result in more stored fat. Insulin imbalances can also cause diabetes.

The science behind these diets has been proven sound, and they can work for you if you understand and follow them correctly. Talking to your friends or just scanning the back cover of the book isn’t going to cut it – you must read and thoroughly understand the program! While these diets don’t work for everybody, almost all who fail didn’t follow them correctly.

Is a low carbohydrate eating program right for you? Perhaps, start by purchasing a respected book on the topic and read it thoroughly! If you like what the book has to say, call your doctor and get his/her advice. It just might change your life! - Chef Mick Rosacci, Tony's Meats & Specialty Foods

Helpful Links:

Wilstar - a comprehensive look at low carb diets from an independent site with extensive explaination and links to answer all your questions.

The Atkins Website - Detailed information about the Atkins diet as well as recipes and tools to help this diet work for you.

The South Beach Website - Facts and tools to help you get started with the South Beach approach to weight loss.

Low Carb Recipe Resource - find a collection of low carb recipes in our recipe database.