DIET | DETECTIVE^®

A: You can barely turn on the television these days without hearing about one weight loss plan or another.

The side effects associated with following a low-carbohydrate diet can range from fatigue and bad breath to dehydration, constipation and possible electrolyte imbalances. Furthermore, the increase in saturated fat typically associated with this type of diet can increase the risk of heart disease, the number one killer in the United States. However, many people still swear by this eating plan to help them lose weight and keep it off. For people with insulin resistance, such as those with diabetes or PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), a restricted carbohydrate diet under the supervision of a physician may be appropriate to help control insulin and blood sugar levels. However, for the majority of people trying to lose weight, a restricted carbohydrate diet will usually produce the same weight loss results as would following a well-balanced, portion-controlled meal plan and increased activity.

Before you consider a high protein diet with little to no carbohydrate intake, consider this: every food group besides meat and fat contain some amount of carbohydrate. Do you think it would be healthy to eliminate every food group but two from your daily intake? Probably not. If you read the meal plans of most reduced carbohydrate diets, they recommend increasing your carbohydrate intake gradually over time, adding nutrient-rich carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and whole grains - similar to the suggestions of most balanced, healthy meal plans.

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