Thinking of Trying a Low-Carb Diet Plan? 3 Things to Consider

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I think the Atkins diet is a little bit too extreme to be honest allowing only 20 grams of carbohydrate a day. Surely a more balanced low carb diet over time would be better for your overall well being.

Cindy Sherman of FL 11:37AM January 27, 2012

This website sucks on the iPhone. But in any case just because it is fat doesn't mean it is good for you. Eating vegatable oil is horrible for you. Like the other commented said if it wasn't a drug you really can't draw conclusions from it.

Mark of CO 9:08PM April 13, 2011

It's true that we've been eating grains for longer than 50 years. We've been eating them for about 10,000 years, in fact, but never in the astonishing proportions that have been recommended by the American Dietetic Association over the past 30 or so years, when they first changed their recommendations to high-carb, low-fat diets. Since then we've seen an explosion in carb consumption that has resulted in the grocery store shelves we see today that are filled with neat packages of different mixtures of wheat, corn, and soy. I really believe this overconsumption of grains is why people seem to be getting fatter and unhealthier despite following the supposed conventional wisdom of the low-fat proponents. I agree with John that we certainly didn't evolve to eat grains and that a diet of good clean protein and fats with good clean veggies is best, with minimal grain products only as a special treat. Since I've made this switch in my life I've personally lost over 20 pounds and feel much better overall, in addition to eating less--good protein and fat fill you up so you don't need to eat as much. It seems like common sense to me!

Heather of CA 11:19PM October 04, 2010

I don't think you should do away with carbs since it is one of the three basic ingredients. I think more important thing is what kind of carb and how much of it you consume. I always choose wheat or wholegrain bread instead of white bread. Also it helps to make sure you consume slightly less than you would like to have.

Jieheerah Yun of CA 2:39PM October 04, 2010

We've been eating breads and pasta for a whole lot longer than 50 years, so i don't understand how you can link carbs to obesity in that sense. How about we take a look at the portion sizes change over the last 50 years? While were at it let's take a look at activity levels over the last 50 years. Those are the main factors that contribute to weight loss, simply eating too much and not exercising enough. check out www.diet-myths.com for more myths like this busted.

kate of IL 8:49AM October 01, 2010

The "second" study you refer to was probably the one done with the Framingham group. In that study (which actually wasn't a study at all), they supposedly compared low carbohydrate diets. Problem is, non of the subjects actually did a low carbohydrate diet! 30% carbohydrate is not low carb in any measure. It's equal to the other two macronutrients. That would only be low carbohydrate to someone who believed you should eat mostly carbohydrates and little protein or fats. Any basic nutrition class will reveal that carbohydrates are the only macronutrient that is non essential. We should eat mostly what is non essential? That defies logic.
The human animal did not evolve eating bread, pasta and rice. It evolved eating plants and animals that could be eaten raw and without any processing. Of the millions of years of our evolution, we have been processing (in any way) our food for only thousands of years. That's very little time to adapt to different nutrients. It's only been within the last 50 years that we have adopted the idea of eating a high carbohydrate diet. That's when obesity-diabetes-heart disease-cancer have all skyrocketed to the tremendous killers they are now. Before that, these problems were far less of an issue.
John

John of CA 8:36PM September 28, 2010