Low Carb Diets & Glycemic Index Diet Reviews

Low carb diets or low carbohydrate diets are dietary programs that restrict carbohydrate consumption usually for weight loss and obesity treatment. Foods high in carbohydrates such as breads and pasta are limited and/or replaced with foods with a higher percentage of proteins and fats such as meat and beans. Many low carb diets use the "glycemic index" of foods to determine which carbohydrates to consume. This index measures the quality of carbohydrates. "Good" carbs are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and vegetables, while "bad" carbs are refined carbohydrates such as white sugar and flour. The magic behind the short-term success of many low carb diets lies in their effect on the body:

The energy source most easily broken down by the body is glucose (sugar). The primary breakdown product of carbohydrates is glucose. When carbohydrates are restricted, the body runs short on its easy supply of glucose. The body anticipates this situation by storing glucose (glycogen) in the muscles and liver. For every gram of glycogen stored, the body stores three grams of water. If carbs are significantly limited, as they are in many low carb diets, the body will break down these glycogen stores to obtain glucose (sugar) for energy. When glycogen is broken down, stored water is released. The more aggressive the carbohydrate restriction, the more dramatic this effect.

More simply, much of our water intake comes from the carbohydrates we eat, not the fluids we drink. Aggressive restriction of carbs, restricts water consumption, leading to dehydration. Not all low carb diets exemplify this effect, but many are notorious for it. This section is meant to help you decide what is healthy carbohydrate restriction and what is not.

 

Atkins Diet is high protein, low carb diet. According to the popular way of following this plan, you are allowed to eat as much fat as you like as long as you consume very little carbohydrates.

Carbohydrate Addict's LifeSpan people become addicted to sugar because of it’s effect on insulin levels. Control the addiction by eating foods that are high in carbs only once a day.

Egg Diet Is it possible to go on a weight loss diet whereby you can eat unlimited amounts of eggs, meat, and fat?

Five Day Miracle Diet the goal is to decrease food cravings by managing blood sugar levels.

Glycemic Impact Diet The basic theory is that simple carbohydrates make you retain fat and raise your insulin levels. Limit "bad" carbs and consume "good" carbs.

Kimkins is a low carb diet that is essentially a diet that's very low in calories, fat, carbs and fiber.

Living Low Carb is a resource book for following a decreased carbohydrate diet.

Prism Diet is a faith-based low carbohydrate diet. It's main objective is to eliminite sugar and drastically reduce carbohydrate intake.

Protein Power Hormone Insulin, released by carbohydrates, causes health problems. By keeping carbohydrate intake low and protein intake high, your body will burn fat faster and not feed it.

Radiant Health refers to the basic building blocks for which peak health can be established.

South Beach Diet is a healthier version of known low carbohydrate diets. It was created for the purpose of lowering cholesterol for heart patients and those with diabetes.

Sugar Busters sugar is the cause of excessive weight. It increases the level of insulin in the body and increases the likelihood of food being stored as fat.

The Zone diet focuses on a balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. The "zone" for maximum calorie burning is 40 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.

Debunking the Zone critical review from a doctor.

Dietition's Low Carb Review critical review from a registered dietition.