05 Nov How Does Your Low-Carb Diet Stack Up?

Are you tired of keeping up with all the latest fads? I’m not talking about skinny jeans and wayfarers. It’s enough to keep up with the latest fashions, but lately it seems that we’re also pressured to keep up with the latest diet trends.

“Did you hear, Nancy lost 100 pounds on Fad X diet?? You simply have to try it!”

But in truth, the latest trends are often just variations on the same core dieting principles we’ve been following (off and on) for decades. And although the specific rules may change, it seems that the low-carb diet is one that will continue to re-emerge.

But is the low-carb diet right for you? Let’s see how it stacks up:

Low-Carb vs. Low-Fat Diet – One recent study found that obese adults who followed a low-carb diet lost more weight than those who followed a low-fat plan

Low-Carb Diet vs. Sleep – Another study on low carb diets found that people on a very low-carbohydrate diet spent less time in deep-level REM sleep than those on carb-rich diets. The effects took place almost instantly, which proves that what you eat does have an impact on how you sleep.

Low-Carb Diet vs. Your Love Life – By now, you may have heard that low-carb diets can cause bad breath. It’s true. When you’re on a very low-carb diet, the body switches from drawing energy from carbs to burning energy from fat stores. This causes the body’s ketone levels to increase, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. Ketones consist of acetone and high levels can be toxic. One way the body releases ketones is through the breath.

Some key points:

1. Remember that carbohydrates aren’t the enemy – When you hear someone say that carbs make them fat, they are probably talking about things like white flour and sugar. Vegetables are also forms of carbohydrates, and they contain a great deal of vitamins and minerals that the body needs-don’t skip veggies in favor of a “low carb” diet.

2. Evaluate your progress frequently – Are you hungry all the time? Grouchy or sleep deprived? When you start eating healthier, you should also start feeling better than ever. If you aren’t, this diet may not be the best fit for you. Don’t fall into the trap of getting stuck on a diet just because you’re losing weight. You should also be feeling well.