Low-Carb Diets

A few years back my doctor was pressuring me to try the low-carb diet, often I was even told to go practically no-carb and very high protein. I flat out refused to do it. It didn’t seem healthy to me to cut out grains, fruits and vegetables. I know it is possible to lose weight by doing this diet. My neighbor has completely cut breads and potatoes out of his diet and has lost a lot of weight, but is it a healthy option? NO!!!!!!! First of all, the low-carb lifestyle goes against what we have been told since probably the 70s, which is to limit your intake of beef (or eat leaner cuts of beef) and eat other lean proteins, such as boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Most Americans are getting 35% or more of their calorie intake from protein, when they should only be getting 10% from protein. Too much protein basically poisons your body. It also sucks calcium out of your bones. And I think a lot of people avoid the fact that Dr. Atkins who came up with the famous Atkins diet, died of a heart attack! I’ve watched a show before called “Low-Carb and Loving It” and watched this guy make a “snack” that contained over 800 calories! That’s insane. I also learned while taking a Criminology course that people often go crazy when their bodies are deficient of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates fuel your brain. And your body needs whole grains, which is now what my doctor says and suggests that I switch to whole grains and cut out sugar, which is very easy thanks to Splenda and the fact that I love whole grain breads. This is the upside of cutting carbs. To cut out sugar and breads that are made with refined flour, which has sucked all of the good out of the grains. If you are a low-carb dieter, just step back for a minute and think to yourself, is it really good to have a diet that consists mostly of meats, dairy, and very little fruit and vegetables. Some foods that are high in carbs are very good for you, such as beans. Beans are full of fiber and protein while still being low in calories and fat.

You need a variety of foods to be healthy and this includes carbohydrates. When you sit down to a meal make sure your plate is very colorful. This is an easy way to make sure you have a healthy meal. Basically, yes a low-carb diet will help you lose weight, but you may be taking years off your life with all the fat and calories you are taking in. There are times when low-carb isn’t an option and has to be done. For example, diabetics must watch their carb intake and that has a lot to do with sugar. So if you don’t care about being healthy and just want to lose weight, by all means do the low-carb diet, but if you do want to be healthy and still lose weight choose a diet that offers a variety of foods or better yet, don’t call it a diet and just make better choices. We all know what is healthy and what isn’t. My best advice is to set yourself up for success by stocking your pantry, fridge, and freezer with healthy options so you won’t be tempted to eat unhealthy foods. When you eat healthy foods you feel better. I found after several years of eating high fat foods that I felt sluggish all the time, now that I eat more fresh vegetables and fruit, I have much more energy and I’m sick less often. Please reconsider your diet if you are on the low-carb diet or at least incorporate more whole grains, fruits and vegetables into your diet and be healthy.