The low carb diet trend may have faded slightly from just a year ago, but low carb is still popular. The most common low carb diet plans currently on the market are the South Beach Diet, Atkins and The Zone.
So what is a low carb diet?
A low carbohydrate diet is any diet program that advocates a significant reduction of carbohydrates. The premise behind low carb diets is that increased carbs increase blood insulin levels, and the increase insulin increases obesity.
What are carbs?
In the most basic terms, carbohydrates (or carbs) are sugars, grains and starches. Keep in mind, with low carb diets, cutting out all carbs is not required - they advocate eating healthy or complex carbs. (Unfortunately, chocolate chip cookies are simple carbs are are usually not on a low carb plan.)
Depending on the low carb plan you select, they may advocate eating whole grains which take longer for your body to digest, and thus, do not provide a quick hit of insulin to the blood stream. Other diet plans like the Glycemic Index plans use the "good carb" concept as the basis for their diet plan.
Simple carbs can usually be picked out by their sweet taste. More complex carbs, like brown rice or potatoes, aren't as sweet tasting. The most important difference is that simple carbs are broken down and digested quickly and usually contain few vitamins or minerals. Examples are fruits, milk, sugar.
Complex carbs, however, take longer to digest and frequently contain fiber, vitamins and minerals. Examples are vegetables, breads, pasta and legumes.
Low Carb Diet Plans:
South Beach Diet™: Eat your way thin!
Is the Atkins diet right for you?
Introducing The Glycemic Impact Diet. Lose 10 Pounds in 5 weeks
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