Are Low Carb Diets Safe?

A recent study reported by several news channels like BBC News and Daily Mail suggests low carb diets may clog arteries, increasing heart attack & strokes.

But I believe this is misleading since the diet in question was "low carb, high protein".

It is not the low-carb element that is at the heart of this study.

In fact, many of the low carb, high protein diets are quite balanced and follow excellent nutritional principles.

Where the problem lies is in the high levels of saturated fat consumed when a person uses animal sources for the 'high' protein element.

Let's be clear. Journalists write for impact, to make you read. To make you buy newspapers and magazines, headlines need to grab you.

In August 2009, they all start pointing the accusing finger at low carb, high protein diets that have been rather fashionable over the last decade. Atkins Diet, South Beach Diets are examples.

In fact, way back in the early to mid 1900s, work originating from William Banting - the 'Banting Diet' - produced a huge amount of research evidence to indicate strongly that cutting out sugary and starchy carbohydrates from the diet was the key.

In a one year clinical study in 2000 by the Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham, North Carolina, a diet high in protein and fat with nutritional supplements was shown to have:

1. No ill effect on health or dietary deficiencies

2. Highly significant effect on weight loss

3. A positive effect on lowering total cholesterol.

A diet with unlimited protein and fat, but with little or no carbohydrate was far more effective in causing weight loss than a calorie-controlled, low-fat diet.

The news articles about this study might suggest to people that it's ok to go back to eating all that processed rubbish!

It's not, trust me!

Low carb can work very well to counter the high levels of sugar and refined carbohydrates we consume in modern society.

However, not all low carb diets are created equal.

And what is "low" anyhow?

Let's review so you can make an informed decision about the best diet plan for you.

First, here come the scary bits ...

The diet industry and the food industry have cottoned on to the popularity of low carb diets and exploit it shamelessly:

• There are literally hundreds of books on low carb diets.
• There are just as many hundreds of websites offering low carb diet plans.
• There are even restaurants catering for low carb meals.
• Supermarkets use low carb labelling to entice you to buy.

So many people end up - unwittingly - eating a lot of processed food - exactly what you don't want!

Let's look at a 'good' low carb diet ...

First, know this. All food is made up of three primary macronutrients - carbohydrate (or sugar), protein and fat.

Low carb implies that the percentage of carbohydrate (by calorie or weight) is low.

But how low do you go? Well, as a guide ...

* High Carb = 50-70% (according to the USDA Food Pyramid)
* Moderate Carb = 40-50%
* Low Carb = 25-39%
* Very Low Carb = 0-25%

Mind you, any diet less than 50-60% carb ratio might be regarded by some to be a low carb diet.

But some people are more resistant to the insulin fat-storing effect of eating carbohydrates - for background, see my Diabetes Diet page. In this case, a moderate carb diet may actually work just as well for fat loss in some people - more so than a low carb ratio.

By simple maths, if you lower the proportion of carbs in your diet, you must be increasing your relative intake of fat and protein.

So generally speaking low carb diets will also tend towards a high protein diet.

And herein lies the controversy, where should that protein come from.

Most of us are more used to eating animal sources of protein - milk, cheese, poultry, red meats, fish and so on.

Few people except vegetarians shift towards plant-based sources to bump up their high protein diet.

Clearly, eating high levels of protein long term puts strain on your body, particularly your kidneys.

And equally clearly, high levels of saturated fats from animal-based protein is bad for you - we pretty much know this nowadays, right? So ... where does all this take us?

Say you wanted to shift the balance towards lower carbs with all the benefits that gives you for fat loss (or rather, lower fat storage!) ...

My recommendation is based on a review of all the low carb diets I could get my hands on, and still my personal preferred plan wins out ...

Herbalife = Best Low Carb Diet

Here's 10 Ways this will Work for you:

1. You get personal support so you're not starting anything on your own!
2. Millions of satisfied customers across 67 countries world wide - amazing testimonials of successful weight loss & wellness.
3. For my customers, I usually impose a two-week quick start phase, which really helps get your fat burning going. It also balances the body from any imbalances and your blood sugar fluctuations that cause all those cravings. You should feel energised as things stabilise.
4. It is Moderate Carb based so is easier to follow and to keep it going as a normal 'balanced diet' rather than some fad diet.
5. Your protein level is personalised to your body's muscle mass so you don't lose any fat-burning muscle tissue whilst cutting back on calories.
6. It helps you create habits of reaching for non-sugary, non-refined sources of carbohydrates - avoiding the perils of processed food does wonders for your health in the short term and longer term.
7. All your vital nutrition is sorted and we focus on creating one healthy, colourful meal each day.
8. Calorie counting is not usually necessary.
9. No meeting or weigh ins - you do a weekly weigh and measure and we review together - based on trust and understanding what's working or not working for you - so we can jiggle things around if need be to keep the lbs coming off!
10. It reshapes your body and your thinking for life!

For an informal chat, fill out a Contact form and I'll be in touch - personally! For a FREE video explaining the Herbalife plan, click here.

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