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When you move to a low carbohydrate way of life, you replace carbohydrates with fats and proteins. While diets vary in their recommendations, a low-carb diet is synonymous with a high-fat and moderate
protein diet. Those on a low-carb diet should get at least 60 to 70 percent of their daily calorie intake from fat. Carbohydrates should make up less than 10 percent, and in some cases, less than 5 p
ercent of your daily calorie intake
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Naturally, you then eat more carbohydrates, and the cycle repeats itself. Over time, your cells become resistant to insulin, meaning that your pancreas has to work overtime, producing up to four or fi
ve times as much insulin as it normally does just to keep up with the high demand for it. It's been shown that high levels of insulin have a harmful effect on the body. How does premature aging strike
you? Limiting the intake of carbohydrates puts a end to this cycle. When you reduce your carbohydrate intake, your insulin levels decrease and the levels of glucagon increase. Glucagon is the hormone
that causes body fat to be burned and cholesterol to be removed from deposits in the arteries.
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What low carb diet plans are out there? Bunches! Now that low carbing is becoming a bit more mainstream, lots of folks are jumping on the bandwagon and coming out with their version of a "Low Carb Die
t". However, the major "low" carb diet plans that have been out there for a while are: the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Carbohydrate Addicts' Diet, Protein Power, The Zone, SugarBusters!, Li
ndora Lean for Life, Neanderthin, The Suzanne Sommers Plan, Dr. Bernstein's Diabetic Solution, and The Schwarzbein Principle. Visit the offical diet plan sites to find out more!
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How in the world can I eat fat and LOSE fat? It does sound crazy doesn't it? The truth is that our bodies use three main sources as fuel. Alcohol, carbohydrates, and fat. Alcohol is used first as it i
s the easiest to burn. If you use alcohol your body will burn off the alcohol first and then switch to burning carbohydrates which is the second easiest for it to burn. Fat is the hardest fuel for you
r body to use as energy and that's the one we want to switch to. By not using alcohol and cutting back on carbs, we force the body to switch to burning fat as fuel. The more fat we burn, the more weig
ht we lose. We are not talking about eating huge amounts of fat and not all fats are created equal. You should stick to good fats found in olive oil, butter, avocados, and nuts primarily. Avoid all hy
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Guidelines to Follow when Lowcarbing...
-Limit carbohydrates to no more than 10 percent of your daily calorie intake
-Eat only allowed foods
-Eat NO foods that contain sugar or white flour
-Be aware of "hidden" sugars and carbohydrates
-Cut out caffeine
-Take fiber supplements (psyllium husks are good)
-Take vitamin and mineral supplements
-Drink LOTS of water
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See your health care professional before starting any diet
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Are there things I should avoid? Yes! If you want to lose weight as quickly as possible avoid caffeine, alcohol, nitrates, sugar, processed flour, (grains of any type during Atkins induction phase) an
d excess salt. All of these things can cause you to stall and may even cause you to gain! Some people have no problems with caffeine and others find it stalls them. The only way to tell is to try it a
nd see. If you drink coffee daily and aren't losing, try cutting it out or switching to decaf and see if that helps. Nitrates are pretty hard to avoid completely but read labels and try to find things
that have as little as possible. Switch from Deli meats (most contain nitrates) to real meat you prepare yourself.
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