Low-carb diets are recognized among the easiest and potentially healthiest ways to manage weight. These diets ask people to limit the number of carbohydrates they intake in a day, in favor of eating proteins.
While the diets can be effective in losing weight, there are some precautions
medical experts, like those at the Mayo Clinic, caution. It is primarily important to watch the amount of fat and kinds of fat you add to your diet if you are limiting carbs. Vegetable proteins and fats are generally preferable to animal proteins and fats.
Here are five popular diets that offer low-carb options for people trying to lose weight:
Special: Odd Discovery Helps Doctor Lose 40 Pounds — at Age 54
1. The Atkins Diet: This diet was created by dietician and cardiologist Robert Coleman Atkins. He theorized that too many carbohydrates make us feel hungrier. The answer is to limit the number of carbohydrates in the diet in favor of protein and fat.
2. South Beach: In phase one of the South Beach Diet, carb intake is extremely low. The diet focuses on high proteins and healthy fats, but does not force dieters to specifically count carbohydrates.
3. Weight Watchers: Weight Watchers points are based on a formula that favors low carbohydrate choices, but does not limit most fruits or vegetables, which are generally high in fiber. The organization’s new Simply Filling system encourages the choice of whole grains. Adherents to this plan will see a general lowering of carbohydrate intake.
4. Jenny Craig: Jenny Craig offers a one-on-one consultant service for people trying to lose weight. It relies on pre-packaged food. There is a low-carb option for people with Type 2 diabetes.
Editor's Note: Hormones May Be Causing Weight Gain, Heart Woes
5. Ornish: The Ornish diet focuses on “good carbs” like those in fruits, vegetables and legumes. The plan also favors the consumption of plant-based fats like those in nuts, avocados and seeds.
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.