Jan

8

What Are The Risks Of Fad Diets?

Filed Under Diets, Healthy Diets, How To's, Main Content, Weight Loss | Leave a Comment

So-called “fad diets” seem to spring up all the time, offering a diet plan to help you lose a lot of weight in a short period of time. Often, they do this by focusing on one or two types of food to either eliminate from the diet completely or to dine on exclusively. Examples of this type of fad diet are Cabbage Soup Diet, Sugar Busters! and the grapefruit soup diets. But can these diets help you lose weight, and do they pose other health risks?

Well, they certainly can help you lose weight. They are all designed to do that, and on that level they are almost all effective, at least for a little while.

But there are risks to many of these diets. Often, vital nutrients are eliminated from your diet for too long, leading to a variety of complications, some of which can be very serious.

Starvation diets where you either limit your diet to one or two foods or reduce the total intake of food can be very dangerous. Your body needs a wide variety of nutrients, balanced effectively for maximum use. If it fails to get what it needs, you can suffer from a variety of issues, some of which can be serious and result in permanent injury.

Many of these diets are especially dangerous to people with diabetes. They can take so drastically lower the dieters blood sugar level that serious complications, even death can result. Studies have also shown that diabetics can be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease when on poorly balanced diets. If the dieter is not aware they have diabetes they have no way to avoid those risks. This is why it is so important to consult your physician before starting any significant weight loss program.

How can a dieter avoid these risks and still lose weight? There are many diets out there that offer sensible and safe ways to shed weight and still be healthy. Some of those plans are outlined in books you can find in your local bookstore. Others can be found online at sites like www.stripthatfat.com. Each of these plans focus on the key things to remember when trying to follow a safe diet.

First, your body needs a balance of sugars, carbohydrates and fats. Research your diet plan for signs that it is balanced and includes the proper nutritional balance of foods, then be sure to follow that plan carefully. Avoid those plans that focus on one or two foods or types of food to the exclusion of all others.

One advantage to on-line programs is that many of them have menu generators that can help you plan healthy meals that still help you lose weight. Others may have on-line food diaries, which have been proven to be effective in helping a dieter manage their diet.

Using these resources will help you stick to a diet that will not only help you lose weight but will do so in a healthy way that will not pose an even greater risk to your health than the excess weight will.

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Nov

19

Are you the right person to follow the Atkins Diet?

Filed Under Atkins, Diets, Healthy Diets, How To's, Low carb foods, Weight Loss | Leave a Comment

What Type of Person Will Follow the Atkins Diet?

That would be a person totally committed to losing weight.  Let’s face it, dieting is not fun. Suddenly, doughnuts, pies, cakes, cookies, potato chips, and Mac Donald’s take on a whole new appeal. It seems that when we’re deprived of something, it becomes essential that we have it.
Are you the type of person that can follow the Atkins Diet?  Let’s find out. Look in the mirror. Do you like what you see?  If you do, read no further.  If you don’t, read on.
The Atkins Diet asks 10 questions to see if this diet is for you. These are the 10 questions.

1.  Are you overweight, even if you feel you don’t eat that much?

2. Do you follow weight-loss plans to the letter and make no headway or get stuck on a weight loss plateau?

3. Do you notice many slim people consume more food and calories than you?

4. Are you always hungry on low calorie diets?

5. Are you still hungry when you finish a “balanced meal”?

6. Do you continually lose and gain the same 10 to 15 pounds?

7. Do you gain weight while eating low-fat foods?

8. Do you often blame it on your metabolism?

9. Do you constantly crave sweets and other high-carbohydrate foods?

10. Do you have a strong desire to eat again within two hours of eating a filling meal?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, you are the type of person that will follow the Atkins Diet.  You are probably addicted to refined carbohydrates or your body does not process them normally.

These highly processed carbs break down rapidly into glucose in your bloodstream. Your blood sugar then goes on a roller coaster ride, causing you to want to eat even more.

Eating too many bad carbs can cause an inability to lose or maintain weight loss.  It leaves you in a constant state of hunger.  Anyone tired of this diet roller coaster, and looking for a better way of losing weight, is the type of person that will follow the Atkins Diet.

Ask yourself if you’re looking for a program that diminishes cravings, reduces appetite, and eliminates addictive food patterns.  Do you want a diet that recommends some of the best and healthiest foods, is flexible, and let’s you eat delicious foods at home or out?

Is a diet that does not require you to buy expensive pre-made meals the right one for you? Do you want one that helps you reach your weight loss goals and keep it off for the long run? How about minimizing risk factors for certain health issues?  We all want to look great and feel more confident.  The Atkins Diet claims to be able to do that. It is also backed by science.

If this sounds like what you have been looking for, then you are the type of person that will follow the Atkins Diet.

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Nov

15

What Percentage of the Atkins Diet is Fat?

Filed Under Atkins, Diets, Healthy Diets, Low carb foods, Main Content, Weight Loss | Leave a Comment

The Atkins Diet focuses on protein and carbohydrates. They don’t adhere to any particular percentage of fat. They do recommend that none of it be trans fat.

Atkins knows that the right kinds of fats in the diet are essential. They are a vital energy source, help slow digestion, and keep you feeling full and satisfied longer. The right kinds of fat help your body absorb vitamins such as, A, D, E, and K.

The Atkins Diet shows you that it is not healthy to try to banish all fats from your diet. They will help you determine good fats from bad so you won’t have to worry about the percentage.

Monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids are all heart healthy fats. The rule of thumb is that good fats are liquid at room temperature and may thicken when refrigerated.

Most vegetable oils fit in this category. Omega-3 fatty acids come from fatty fish such as, salmon, albacore tuna, herring, and mackerel.  Walnuts, flaxseeds, and flaxseed oil are other good sources.  These are all allowed on the Atkins Diet, but there is no percentage given as they feel none is needed.

Saturated fat is semisolid to solid at room temperature. Animal products are the main sources of saturated fats. Tropical oils and cocoa butter are also high in saturated fat. Smaller amounts are present in some plant foods like olive oil and nuts. The Atkins Diet believes that by substituting healthier fats like olive oil and canola oil for butter, they don’t have to count the percentage. You will still lose weight.

They do not recommend trans fat, however. Trans fat is produced when hydrogen is added to liquid oils to make them solid and extend their shelf life. They are found in packaged products and almost every food that contains shortening. The Atkins Diet helps you avoid trans fat by teaching you to read food labels.

Manufacturers are allowed to claim zero trans fat for any food containing up to one half gram per serving.  Go to the ingredients list where the words hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated are a warning flag that it contains trans fat. The bottom line on the two different types is that unsaturated fats don’t clog your arteries and saturated fats do.

The Atkins Diet relies on the fact that you will concentrate on low carbs and protein and the fat percentage will just fall into place. Of course, you still have to be aware of the type of fat you’re consuming.  The percentage of fat won’t hamper your weight loss efforts if you pay attention to what the Atkins Diet teaches you about healthy eating.

All of the Atkins Diet recipes give the nutrition breakdown and you will know what type and percentage of fat is in each meal.  For those of us who think fat makes food taste better, it’s nice to know that some fats are okay.

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Nov

2

Main Characteristics of the Atkins Diet

Filed Under Atkins, Diets, Healthy Diets, How To's, Low Carb Diet, Weight Loss | Leave a Comment

One of the characteristics is that it’s based on the theory that you have to reduce your carbohydrate intake in order to lose weight. It gives you the tools to accomplish this in the form of phases.
Phase 1 requires you to severely limit your carbohydrate intake to about 20 net carbs per day. Another unique characteristic of the Atkins Diet is that it tells you what a net carb is and gives you a net carb counter. A net carb is the grams of carbohydrates minus the grams of fiber in a single serving.

Phase 2 and 3 adds the rest of the carbs you are allowed back into your diet.
Another characteristic of the Atkins Diet is that it teaches you about nutrition. They do this by teaching you to read food labels and showing you the difference between good and bad carbs.

We all know that too many calories cause you to gain weight, but Atkins teaches you that too few calories slow down your metabolism.  They give you a calorie range. Women should shoot for 1500 – 1800 calories per day.

Men should go for 1800 – 2000 calories per day. These ranges can vary depending on your size, gender, age, and metabolism.
My favorite characteristic is they want you to eat three regular sized meals and two snacks every day. A snack is a good word on the Atkins Diet and they show you how to choose wisely. They have delicious bars and shakes that can be enjoyed from day one.

They even show you how to choose wisely when eating out. Unlike other diet plans, Atkins does not require you to buy expensive pre-made meals. Instead, they give you lists of acceptable foods and you shop and cook your own meals. Another characteristic that I like is the recipes that are on their website. They have a meal plan and recipes that you can copy and take to the store.
Activity is another recommendation of the Atkins Diet. Get out and go for a walk, play with your kids, or do some gardening for exercise. It will help speed up your weight loss. Involve your family and friends and let them give you encouragement.
A characteristic of the Atkins Diet that some other diets lack is the attention to your health. Atkins wants you to visit your healthcare provider for a checkup before you start the diet.

They also recommend a follow-up when you reach your goal weight. They say you should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and take vitamin supplements. Make sure they include potassium, magnesium, and calcium, but no iron.

Get your omega 3’s and 6’s every day and a fiber supplement if necessary. As you can see, the Atkins Diet has many great characteristics.  The science behind it seems to be valid and their website is very user friendly. All of the tools and information that you need, you can readily access.  When contacted with a question, they respond promptly.

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Oct

21

High Energy Food - What You Put In Your Body is Important

Filed Under Diets, Healthy Diets, Main Content, Weight Loss | Leave a Comment

There is the old adage that “you are what you eat.”  Although the phrase may be clichĂ©, it really is true, especially when you investigate how the body uses its food energy.  The key to having more energy, feeling better about yourself, and having high stamina, all relates back to the type and quality of food that you are ingesting.

Your body process food to be used as fuel.  Think of it the way that you would think about oil or gasoline an automobile.  You know that if you put good quality oil in your car that it is going to run better than if you use the cheap stuff.  The same thing applies to the way that your body uses food for energy.  If you eat healthy, nutritious high energy foods, you body will perform better than if you feeding it junk food.

Read the full article at BistroMD.com

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