One of the most popular diet for women to lose weight is a low carb diet. To know more about low carb diets. whether it works and its pros and cons, read on…
With the widespread popularity of low carb diets like Atkins, South Beach and Zone diet, many people are following a low carb diet to lose weight. But what does a low carb diet actually mean. Our body requires carbohydrates, proteins and fats in a certain proportion and all foods contain these nutrients. In a low carbohydrate diet, a person restricts the amount of carbohydrate that he/she consumed. This automatically leads him/her to increase the consumption of proteins and fats.
The origin of the low carb diet started with the Atkins diet that was invented by Robert C. Atkins, a cardiologist, in 1972. Atkins diet severely restricted the amount of carbohydrates to be consumed while increasing the amount of proteins and fat. Consumption of high carbohydrate food like potatoes, white rice, pasta, breads and desserts are not allowed in a low carb diet.
Although a low carb diet helps to lose weight, severely restricting all types of carbohydrates can pose many health risks. It is therefore advisable to follow a low carb diet that allows you to eat moderate amount of complex carbohydrates so that you can safely lose weight without feeling tired and listless.
Low Carb Diet Plans for Women
Before we discuss different types of low carb diets for women, let us know a little more on how a low carb diet works to eliminate body fat. Carbohydrates in food is converted into glucose by the body. But all carbohydrates are not converted to glucose by the body at the same rate. Complex carbohydrates that are also known as unrefined carbohydrates, found in whole grains, fruits and some vegetables are converted to glucose slowly by the body.
But simple or refine carbohydrates found in white flour, white bread, soft drinks and pasta raises blood sugar levels quickly. If you eat too much of refined carbohydrates, it all gets converted to glucose and the body has more glucose than it needs. The excess glucose is then stored as fat by the body. Low carb diets, by restricting carbohydrate intake, limits the amount of fat that the body can store. Some of the most popular low carb diets for women are Atkins diet, Zone diet and South Beach diet.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet consists of limiting your carbohydrate intake by restricting the carbohydrate rich food like white bread, pastas, white rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes. You can eat meat, poultry, fish and eggs as well as dairy products like cream cheese and milk. However the amount of unprocessed food like fizzy drinks and chips are of limits. The Atkins diet is one of the most popular low carb diets. However too much restriction of carbohydrates can cause blood sugar levels to plummet and cause fatigue and tiredness.
South Beach Diet
Touted as one of the best and easiest low carb diets to follow, this low carb diet was developed by cardiologist Arthur Agatston. Like the Atkins diet, in a South Beach diet too you are restricted to eating any high carbohydrate foods. But low sugar carbs that have a low glycemic index are allowed on a South Beach diet. Rice, starchy vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes, sugar rich desserts, vegetables like corn and beets are also restricted in this diet plan.
Zone Diet
Another popular low carb diets that works fast for women is the Zone diet developed by biochemist Dr. Sears. It is a more balanced diet program and consumption of carbohydrates are not so severely restricted. Smaller portions of complex carbohydrates like brown rice, whole grains, beans and most vegetables and fruits are allowed in this diet.
Doctor Whitaker Diet
Another low carb diet that is fast gaining popularity is the Doctor Whitaker diet. It was developed by Dr. Julian Whitaker and it restricts the amount of carbohydrate that a person can consume in a day. It combines exercise as well as a high protein low carb diet to promote weight loss.
No Grain Diet
In this diet, a person cannot have any pulses and grains and is required to completely give up starchy vegetables, sweets and sugars. It is a very strict low carb diet plan and although one might lose weight through this diet, it is too rigorous diet to keep up with.
Stress Eater Diet
This Low carb diet plan for women is a four-week diet plan that starts with very low intake of carbohydrates. It then allows moderate intake of carbohydrates as the diet progresses.
Low carb diets does help in losing excess weight. But the trick lies in balancing carbohydrates with proteins and fats and not eliminating all carbohydrates from one’s diet. A possible health risk of a low carb and high protein diet is that a person might consume too much protein and fats which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. A well-balanced diet along with a proper exercise regimen is one of the best methods to lose excess weight and also sustain the weight loss.
