| Lose Weight by Cutting Carbs |
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A 65-year-old mechanical engineer from Boulder, Colo., Kent Rieske shed more than 40 pounds after his doctor warned him about high blood pressure. “After doing some research, I went on a high-fat and high-protein [but low-carbohydrate] diet that really seemed to work for me. I know I look better these days after losing 40 pounds, and I certainly feel better."
The diet that worked for Rieske: Eating red meat, fish, fowl, natural cheeses, raw nuts and non-starchy vegetables, in moderate quantities. He ate little sugar, grains, breads, fruits or starchy vegetables. He also avoided both partially hydrogenated oils and polyunsaturated vegetable fats like corn oil and soybean oil.
Cutting carbs will often result in rapid short-term weight loss " but there are problems with this. Low-carb/high-protein diets force your body into a state called ketosis " this is when your body uses fat instead of carbs as an energy source. .
If you compare a regular diet and a low-carb diet based on the same number of calories, the fat losses are exactly the same. But as much as 7 lbs or more can be lost in the initial stages of a low-carb diet because of water loss.
Although it involves some patience, losing weight gradually is better. Go slowly and eat healthy foods from all the major food groups. . Keep the big picture in mind, not just the quick fix.
Reducing your carb intake to 40% of total calories may be okay, especially if you plan to cut back on sugar and white flour and include lots of high-fiber vegetables and fruit. But if you're thinking of reducing your carb intake to 100g or less per day and increasing your protein and fat intake (especially saturated fat), then negative health effects may result. The high acid level in a high protein diet can leech calcium from bone, and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Tiredness and a lack of energy can also result from insufficient carbohydrate intake. When glycogen stores get depleted, so can your energy.
Carbohydrates are the basis of grains, fruits and vegetables, and milk also has a significant amount in the form of lactose. When you eliminate or severely limit these foods, you are likely to have a grossly inadequate intake of many essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and water that carbohydrates provide.
Also remember that nutritional supplements can never replace the hundreds of plant phytochemicals (which include anti-cancer agents) in naturally-occurring carbohydrate-based foods.
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