Who Invented Low-Carb Diets?
The term "low-carb" was coined around 1992 when the USDA recommended that Americans include six to eleven servings daily of grains and starches in their diet.
In fact, low-carb dieting dates back more than 100 years to 1864, before the trendy Atkins diet, when a pamphlet titled "Letter on Corpulence" was written by William Banting. Banting's diet eventually fell out of favor, but low-carb diets began appearing again in the 20th century. Low-carb is now a lifestyle!
As more and more people realize the weight loss and other health benefits that are available to people who eat low-carb, the number of diets and stores that sell specialty low-carb products continue to rise.
Either a low-carb plan fit into real-world lives, or it doesn't. So how do low-carb diets fit into the real world today?
Low Carb, Slow Carb
Simple Carbs
Complex Carbs
Foods with complex carbohydrates contain many nutrients and have a low- to moderate-glycemic index.
Higher fiber
content in these foods means slower digestion, which is healthier for the body. While studies like one from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in January of 2004 show that low-carb diets can help with weight loss; the carbs need to be of the complex, low-glycemic type.So healthier smiles will shine with healthier bodies.
Executive summary about low-carb diets by Priya Shah
The Truths And Myths Of Low Carb Diets
Watching your intake of carbohydrates is very important for weight loss. Low carb diets or diets that teach food combining are very effective in weight loss, OK now for the myths.
Myth #1) The low carb diet is dangerous
Myth #2) The truth is the father of low carb, high protein dates back to 1863, William Banting of England who wrote a little booklet titled "Letter on Corpulence Addressed to the Public", William Banting is considered the father of low carbohydrate dieting.
Myth #3) Low carbs, high protein, and high fat raises cholesterol, the truth is it actually lowers cholesterol. One restricted carbohydrate intake to less than 30 grams per day (low-carbohydrate diet); the other restricted caloric intake by 500 calories, with 30 percent of calories from fat (conventional diet). In the low-carb group, triglyceride levels decreased more and HDL ('good') cholesterol levels decreased less than in the low-fat group. People with diabetes on the low-carb diet had better control of blood sugar.
Researchers from Duke University found that participants on the low-carb diet lost an average of 26 pounds, compared to an average of 14 pounds lost by those on the low-fat diet The low-carbohydrate group had more beneficial changes in blood triglyceride levels and HDL cholesterol levels than the low-fat diet group. In this study, the low-carb diet groups also received vitamins and other nutritional supplements.
Myth #4) The low carb diet will raise my blood pressure, the truth is with lower LDL levels and VLDL levels, blood pressure levels drop. "If people have high blood pressure and a weight problem, a low-carbohydrate diet might be a better option than a weight loss medication," said Yancy, who is also a staff physician at the VA center in Durham where the study was conducted.
Myth #5) You need carbohydrates or glucose for brain function, the truth is if you are on a hardcore low carb high protein diet, where carbohydrates are non-existent, you are on what is called a Ketogenic Diet.
Myth #6) You cannot eat any carbs on a high protein diet.
Myth #7) I will gain all my weight back if I stop my low carb diet.
Myth #8) Eating protein makes you fat, totally false, protein actually raises your calorie burning metabolism by as much as 30% over carbohydrates.
Myth #9) High protein diets include fats and fats are bad for me.
Myth #10) I will not have any energy with the low carb diet, this is totally false, unless you are marathon runner or bodybuilder.
Executive summary about low-carb diets by Nicolas Miller
