Don't Be Confused About Low Carb Diets - 7 Key Points Explained

With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of
information, it's no wonder that confusion reigns when it comes
to the value and safety of low-carb diets. It seems like heated
debates are raging everywhere!

Whether it's Atkins, the South Beach or some other low-carb plan,
as many as 30 million Americans are following a low-carb diet.

Advocates contend that the high amount of carbohydrates in our
diet has led to increasing problems with obesity, diabetes, and
other health problems. Critics, on the other hand, attribute
obesity and related health problems to over-consumption of
calories from any source, and lack of physical activity. Critics
also express concern that the lack of grains, fruits, and
vegetables in low-carbohydrate diets may lead to deficiencies of
some key nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, and
several minerals.

Any diet, weather low or high in carbohydrate, can produce
significant weight loss during the initial stages of the diet.
But remember, the key to successful dieting is in being able to
lose the weight permanently. Put another way, what does the scale
show a year after going off the diet?

Let's see if we can debunk some of the mystery about low-carb
diets. Below, is a listing of some relevant points taken from
recent studies and scientific literature. Please note there may
be insufficient information available to answer all questions.

- Differences Between Low-Carb Diets

There are many popular diets designed to lower carbohydrate
consumption. Reducing total carbohydrate in the diet means that
protein and fat will represent a proportionately greater amount
of the total caloric intake.

Atkins and Protein Power diets restrict carbohydrate to a point
where the body becomes ketogenic. Other low-carb diets like the
Zone and Life Without Bread are less restrictive. Some, like
Sugar Busters claim to eliminate only sugars and foods that
elevate blood sugar levels excessively.

- What We Know about Low-Carb Diets

Almost all of the studies to date have been small with a wide
variety of research objectives. Carbohydrate, caloric intake,
diet duration and participant characteristics varied greatly.
Most of the studies to date have two things in common: None of
the studies had participants with a mean age over 53 and none of
the controlled studies lasted longer than 90 days.

Information on older adults and long-term results are scarce.
Many diet studies fail to monitor the amount of exercise, and
therefore caloric expenditure, while participants are dieting.
This helps to explain discrepancies between studies.

The weight loss on low-carb diets is a function of caloric
restriction and diet duration, and not with reduced carbohydrate
intake. This finding suggests that if you want to lose weight,
you should eat fewer calories and do so over a long time period.

Little evidence exists on the long-range safety of low-carb
diets. Despite the medical community concerns, no short-term
adverse effects have been found on cholesterol, glucose, insulin
and blood-pressure levels among participants on the diets. But,
adverse effects may not show up because of the short period of
the studies. Researchers note that losing weight typically leads
to an improvement in these levels anyway, and this may offset an
increase caused by a high fat diet. The long range weight change
for low-carb and other types of diets is similar.

Most low-carb diets cause ketosis. Some of the potential
consequences are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and confusion.
During the initial phase of low-carb dieting some fatigue and
constipation may be encountered. Generally, these symptoms
dissipate quickly. Ketosis may also give the breath a fruity
odor, somewhat like nail-polish remover (acetone).

Low-carb diets do not enable the consumption of more calories
than other kinds of diets, as has been often reported. A calorie
is a calorie and it doesn't matter weather they come from
carbohydrates or fat. Study discrepancies are likely the result
of uncontrolled circumstances; i.e. diet participants that cheat
on calorie consumption, calories burned during exercise, or any
number of other factors. The drop-out rate for strict (i.e. less
than 40 grams of CHO/day) low-carb diets is relatively high.

What Should You Do? - There are 3 important points I would like
to re-emphasize:

- The long-range success rate for low-carb and other types of
diets is similar.

- Despite their popularity, little information exists on the
long-term efficacy and safety of low-carbohydrate diets.

- Strict low-carb diets are usually not sustainable as a normal
way of eating. Boredom usually overcomes willpower.

It is obvious after reviewing the topic, that more, well-designed
and controlled studies are needed. There just isn't a lot of good
information available, especially concerning long-range effects.
Strict low-carb diets produce ketosis which is an abnormal and
potentially stressful metabolic state. Under some circumstances
this might cause health related complications.

The diet you choose should be a blueprint for a lifetime of
better eating, not just a quick weight loss plan to reach your
weight goal. If you can't see yourself eating the prescribed
foods longer than a few days or a week, then chances are it's not
the right diet. To this end, following a moderately low fat diet
with a healthy balance of fat, protein, carbohydrate and other
nutrients is beneficial.

If you do decide to follow a low-carb plan, remember that certain
dietary fats are associated with reduction of disease. Foods high
in unsaturated fats that are free of trans-fatty acids such as
olive oil, fish, flaxseeds, and nuts are preferred to fats from
animal origins.

Even promoters of the Atkins diet now say people on their plan
should limit the amount of red meat and saturated fat they eat.
Atkins representatives are telling health professionals that only
20 percent of a dieter's calories should come from saturated fat
(i.e. meat, cheese, butter). This change comes as Atkins faces
competition from other popular low-carb diets that call for less
saturated fat, such as the South Beach diet plan. Low-carb
dieting should not be considered as a license to gorge on red
meat!

Another alternative to "strict" low-carb dieting would be to give
up some of the bad carbohydrate foods but not "throw out the baby
with the bath water". In other words, foods high in processed
sugar, snacks, and white bread would be avoided, but foods high
in complex carbohydrates such as fruit, potatoes and whole
grains, retained.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any
health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News [http://www.lifestyle -health-news.com] and Medical Health News [http://www.medical-health-news.com] where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

Top 10 Questions and Answers on Atkins Diet

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1. What is Atkins Diet?

Dr. Atkins diet, first introduced in 1972, is strictly focused on limiting carbohydrate consumption.

That is why it is called a low-carb, high-protein diet or sometimes simply a low-carb diet, together with other diets such as South Beach Diet, Power Protein Diet etc...

2. What are carbohydrates, and where can they be found?

Carbohydrates provide your body with its basic fuel, very much like a car engine and gasoline. Glucose goes directly into the cells, which convert it into the energy they need.

There are two types of carbohydrates:

Simple carbohydrates (also called "sugars" on food package labels): glucose, fructose and galactose are referred to as monosaccharides. Lactose, sucrose and maltose are called disaccharides (they contain two monosaccharides).

Complex carbohydrates ("starches"), made up of chains of glucose molecules, which is simply a way plants store glucose.

Starches can be found in great quantities in most grains (wheat, corn, oats, rice) and things like potatoes and plantains.

Your digestive system breaks a starch back down into its component glucose molecules so that the glucose can enter your bloodstream.

A complex carbohydrate is digested more slowly than simple carbohydrates because it takes longer to break down a starch.

Complex carbs can be either high in fiber such as broccoli or low in fiber such as bananas or potatoes.

But carbohydrates are not the only substances the body uses: it also needs proteins and fats.

3. What are proteins and where can they be found?

A protein is any chain of amino acids. Carbohydrates provide cells with energy, proteins provide cells with the building material they need to grow and maintain their structure.

Protein can be found in both animal and vegetable foods. Most animal sources (meat, milk, eggs) provide "complete protein": they contain all of the essential amino acids.

Vegetable foods usually have few or none of the essential amino acids. Example: rice is low in isoleucine and lysine.

Some vegetable sources contain quite a bit of protein --things like nuts, beans, soybeans, etc. are all high in protein.

4. What are fats and where can they be found?

Fats are also an important part of our diet. Many foods contain fat in different amounts. High-fat foods include dairy products like butter and cream as well as mayonnaise and oils.

There are two kinds of fats: saturated and unsaturated.

Saturated fats are normally solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature.

Vegetable oils are the best examples of unsaturated fats, while lard and shortening (along with the animal fat you see in raw meat) are saturated fats.

We can further distinguish the unsaturated fats between polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. Unsaturated fats are currently thought to be more healthy than saturated fats, and monounsaturated fats (as found in olive oil and peanut oil) are thought to be healthier than polyunsaturated fats.

Fat is necessary because: the only way to get certain fat-soluble vitamins is to eat fat, your body has no way to make certain essential fats, so you must get them in your food.

Another reason is that fat is a good source of energy, in fact it contains twice as many calories per gram as do carbohydrates or proteins. Your body can burn fat as fuel when necessary

5. and how can I loose weight by reducing carbohydrate consumption?

Atkins diet and other low-carb diets are based on the theory that certain carbohydrates have a greater impact on blood sugar levels than others.

So you count these carbs. They are the ones that matter. To figure out the net carb count of a food item, you need to identify the carbs that don't have a high impact -- those from fiber and sugar alcohol, and subtract that total from the overall carb count

Just regulate your blood sugar levels (from carbohydrates) and you'll be able to better regulate your appetite... and your weight.

Therefore, say Atkins diet proponents, the culprits are carbohydrates and there is nothing wrong with eating as much meat as you want!

What you should do is restrict carbohydrate consumption, specially starchy foods such as bread, rice, corn etc..., except for what they consider as "good carbohydrates" such as high fiber vegetables (broccoli etc...)

According to them, the energy we need should be taken from proteins, and sometimes fat, but as few carbohydrates as possible, hence the name: low carbohydrate diet..

6 . What else does the human body need?

Mainly vitamins and minerals. These can be found in various foods, fruits, etc..It seems the "Standard Western Diet" is deficient in vitamins and minerals. This has led to the creation of vitamin and mineral supplements.

7. Is Atkins diet efficient?

Anybody can note the simple fact that cutting back on carbohydrates works, at least for a quick drop in body fat and body water.

However, for most dieters the problem is the long-term effects on the body due to such a drastic reduction in carbohydrates.

Whatever Atkins diet proponents have said, this remains a real problem and people like those at South Beach Diet have tried to solve it by introducing carbohyfrates after the 14 days initial phase.

8. What about the "fat makes you fat" theory?

According to Anthony Colpo, one of the most articulate of the Atkins diet defenders:

"Some folks have been so inculcated with the simplistic "fat makes you fat" theory that they just cannot believe a diet high in fat can lead to a loss of bodyfat.

The fact is, high fat diets can result in spectacular fat loss - as long as carbohydrate intake is kept low. Eat a diet that is high in both fat and carbohydrate and your bodyfat percentages will head north real quick! "

9. Does Atkins diet cause coronary heart disease (CHD)?

On May 26, 2004 A Florida businessman filed suit against the makers of Atkins diet.

The man claimed as a consequence of following the low-carb diet, he suffers from severe heart disease, necessitating angioplasty and a stent

One of the fiercest opponents of Atkins diet, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) President Neal Barnard, M.D, said that the diet proponents "push dieters to avoid healthy foods, like rice, beans, and pasta, while ignoring the risks of high-cholesterol, high-fat meat and cheese. The idea that cholesterol and saturated fat don't matter is a dangerous myth."

But what does the other side say? As expected, we hear a totally different story.

Here is Anthony Colpo's take on the CHD issue:

"A low carb diet based on paleolithic food choices, that is, a diet based on free-range animal products and low carbohydrate, low-glycemic plant foods, fits the bill quite nicely. So go ahead, eat your steak and salad!"

10. Are there any other health risks?

In additon to CHD - coronary heart disease - Atkins diet has also been blamed for a number of other "atrocities", such as: colon cancer, impaired kidney function, osteoporosis, complications of diabetes, and to cap it all: constipation, headache, bad breath, muscle cramps, diarrhea, general weakness.

A few quick answers to some of these accusations from Anthony Colpo:

Kidney disease: "Bodybuilders and strength athletes have been consuming high-protein diets for decades. Given the widespread global participation in these activities, if the claims of kidney damage were true, by now there would be an enormous number of case studies of ex-bodybuilders and strength athletes afflicted with kidney disease," which is obviously not the case.

Osteoporosis: "a low-carbohydrate, high fat, high protein diet is a far better choice for building strong bones than a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet."

A.M.Sall invites you to cash in on his 30 years experience as a professional medical translator and say goodbye forever to all your Health, Beauty and Wellness problems!
http://www.health-beauty-wellness.com/10.htm

The Proper Diet - Good Foods For Low Body Fat, Vibrant Health, and Longevity!

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Part Five of the Seven-Part Series:  Why Do American Women Get Fat? What You Can Do About It. 

The Problem:

At any given time two-thirds of all American adults are on a diet. Of those, 29 percent are men and 44 percent are women. Yet, only five percent of dieters will keep the weight off. In fact, most will actually regain their lost weight, plus more. With all the money being spent on diets and diet products, Americans aren't losing weight. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, overweight and obesity has reached epidemic levels. One of the main reasons dieters fail at their "get fit" attempts and remain a statistic is because they choose "fad diets" as opposed to a balanced, healthy diet. In fact the weight-loss industry makes its billions because "millions succumb to 'quick-fix' claims, seeking a (non-existent) effortless weight-loss method.

Diet Defined:

After a "fad diet" fails, most dieters give up, claiming, "diets don't work".   It seems to me that the word "diet" is the target of criticism and creates a lot of confusion. Is diet a bad four-letter word? If you eat food (or liquids), you're on a diet. Diet is defined as "food or drink regularly consumed," or "a controlled intake of food and drink designed for weight loss, for health or religious reasons, or to control a medical condition." The real issue is whether you on a proper diet, for your body to either lose weight (fat), or maintain a healthy and acceptable body weight.

Diets that Don't Work:  

Instead of saying, "diets don't work", we should specify which diets don't work. Unhealthy diets don't work. Restrictive and unbalanced diets don't work. Starvation diets don't work. Fake food diets don't work. Diet pills don't work. Massive supplement intake diets don't work. Fad (lose weight fast) diets don't work. We should confront the real issue; most diet programs and products offer quick-fix solutions and are basically gimmicks full of false promises, magic potions, and misleading propaganda. As a fitness expert for over 27 years, I've seen diets come and go (and some recycled) and have witnessed first-hand, the damage done by "trend diets." No sensible diet will ever compromise your physical or mental health for the sake of looking good. In fact, you don't have to starve, deprive yourself, settle for fake food, lose your sanity and health, or take pills to lose weight and get into great shape! I know that getting and staying healthy and fit involves a lifestyle of the "proper diet and exercise regimen."

The Solution:

First and foremost, don't fall victim to "quick-fix" diets and make certain your diet is proper (appropriate and sound)! Unless there is a specific medical condition that should eliminate certain foods, you should be leery of any diet program that lacks sufficient amount of calories, restricts one of the key nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats), and even restricts certain wholesome foods like carrots, potatoes and bananas.

The good news is there is finally a rise in sound (proper) diet programs that will help you lose weight and gain health. There are now widely accepted, well-researched nutritional principles found in most well respected, leading diet programs, ones that do not offer quick-fix solutions that are found in so-called "fad diets".

Most fitness experts, nutritionists, diet gurus, and well-informed doctors agree that we should consume clean and wholesome foods and liquids to attain (and maintain) low body fat and vibrant health. We should eliminate junk food, fast food, fried food, and highly processed food. The real debate begins over how many calories we should consume each day and the nutrient ratio. The other debate exists over whether it is better to be a vegetarian or vegan - or not! Most also agree that fat loss is where it's at, not just weight loss, that real and lasting weight-loss results don't happen over night, and getting fit is best accomplished when you include exercise. According the Web MD, "proven weight-management strategies include a balanced diet with reduced calories with a regular exercise regimen." The key to low body fat, vibrant health, and longevity is a lifestyle of the PROPER DIET and exercise!

Proper Diet:

The proper diet includes the following factors: Liquid Consumption, Quantity and Distribution of Calories (daily caloric intake: under eating and over eating; daily nutrient ratio of protein, carbohydrates, and fat; and  meal size: portion control), and Quality and Purity of Calories.  

I would like to specifically address Quality and Purity of Calories. Calories are our friend, however, the wrong kind of calories will do harm (make women fat and sick-the opposite of fit and healthy)! Calories that are not wholesome and do not promote mental, spiritual, and physical well-being include:

Fat calories
Unhealthy calories
Dirty calories
Impure calories
Old and dead calories
Non-kosher calories

In summary quality and purity of calories include: 

Clean and pure foods-natural, fresh, organic, and kosher
Lean, healthy, fibrous, and alive foods
Foods made by God (nature) for human consumption
Carefully chosen man-made or man- manipulated foods

Good Foods:  

Unless you are a nutritionist, food expert, or well-informed fitness professional making good food choices can be a confusing subject. Even experts sometimes disagree on what to eat. There are obvious choices of what not to eat, namely most packaged, processed, and man-made foods-especially the ones full of preservatives and additives. However, some packaged and man-made foods may be good to eat, and some may even be a smart diet cheat. As you do your own research on packaged and man-made foods you can add more of them to your diet. Just remember that when you consume more man- made foods, you are increasing your odds of making mistakes in your food choices.

Pure and wholesome foods (God/nature-made foods) will always be a staple in any diet, whether you want to lose fat, improve health, gain lean body mass, increase your fitness level, become an athlete, or even just maintain your current weight and health condition.

Good Food Choices Short List

Since I have been in the fitness industry for over 27 years, I am always asked, "what do you eat?" and/or "what should I eat?' Here is a VERY short list, but I am sure it will be helpful. 

Here is a good rule to follow: "In choosing foods-now and later-use the Golden Food Rule: "If God (nature) made it, it is safe. If it is man-made, then it must be examined thoroughly." Quote from MY DIVA DIET: A Woman's Last Diet Book 

Fresh-water fish (with fins and scales; like salmon, halibut, trout, and tuna)  
Organic free-range and grass-fed animal meats (beef, poultry, turkey) - (skinless, white meat from poultry)
Kosher meats (if you eat meat you should only eat it once a month or less and trim the fat-good choices are filet mignon, flank and top sirloin))
Eggs from organic, free-range, vegetarian-fed hens (use egg whites and only a few whole eggs each week)
Carefully chosen meat products (like Boars Head deli meat -- fresh and white meat)  
Organic low- to no-fat dairy - (eat or drink minimal amounts)  
Fresh and organic legumes
Raw and unsalted nuts and seeds (dry roasted on occasion)
Plant protein products-clean and pure (like nut butter, hummus, soy butter, and more)
Organic whole grains; like barley, oats, rice, amaranth, buckwheat, couscous, kamut, millet, quinoa, rye, spelt, and others
Grain products-sprouted, stone ground (baked, never fried); like bread, cereal, rice cakes, mochi, corn tortillas, etc. 
Organic fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh and untainted herbs and spices
 Extra-virgin olive oil and other unrefined vegetable oils
Limited amounts of all-natural spreads, sauces, sweeteners, salad dressings, and dips.
All natural gluten-free, low-sugar and low-fat smart diet cheats; like are fudgsicles, popsicles puddings and yogurts. Dark chocolate (low sugar of course)! Barbara's Fig Bars, Mrs. May's Naturals Pumpkin Crunch, and Lundberg Wasabi Rice Chips.  
Don't forget to consume plenty of water each day and the proper amounts of other liquids. Liquid consumption is another topic altogether! 

I am the creator and author of the fat-loss diet book just for women, MY DIVA DIET: A Woman's Last Diet Book . I am the the mother of two awesome daughters, an ACE Certified Fitness Trainer, and I've been in the fitness industry since 1980. I am also a retired bodybuilder and fitness competitor wining titles such as Ms. Fitness San Diego 1993, Ms. Fitness USA finalist 1990, Ms. San Luis Obispo 1989, along with promotional appearances for Thane Fitness Co., KESQ TV-3 Midday Show, Joe Weider's Muscle and Fitness, and an American Gladiators contestant in 1990. I strive to help women (and young girls) lose weight the safe, healthy and life-long way!

Stay tuned for Part Six of this Seven-Part Series: Why Do American Women Get Fat? What You Can Do About It. Exercise - A Major Factor if you are Serious About Getting Fit (Fat Loss and Superior Health) -- Six Components to an Effective Exercise Program.

The Eco-Diet and Fitness Plan

Why We Are Fat & How Not to Be - Ever Again!

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Diet Fads - Some Smart, Some Scary

Dieting. Not many people like it, but lots of people have tried it. What some people don't realize is that diets, some laughable and some scary, have existed long before the Atkins diet became popular.

1800s

Vinegar Diet - British poet Lord Byron claimed to have lost 60 pounds by soaking his food in vinegar before eating it, although some historians believe he had an eating disorder.

Graham's Diet - Sylvester Graham, father of the ever-popular Graham Cracker was a Presbyterian minister who believed people should avoid coffee, alcohol, tea, spices, and meat. His followers, "Grahamites", ate pure water, fresh vegetables and fruits, high fiber foods, and whole wheat.

Zander Rooms - If you've ever watched an old movie, chances are you've seen people attempting to lose weight by wrapping a vibrating strap around their body. Believe it or not, this was an actual fad started by Dr. Gustav Zander from Sweden.

Banting Diet - William Banting, an English casket maker who struggled with his weight, wrote "Letter on Corpulence," which was the first the first popular diet book. Banting said he lost 50 pounds by eating a diet made up of dry toast, lean meats, unsweetened fruit, and green vegetables.

1900s

Fletcherizing - Horace Fletcher of San Francisco became known as "The Great Masticator" when he shared his unusual diet that encouraged people to chew their bites 32 times and then spit them out. Fletcher claimed he lost more than 40 pounds on this plan, devised after he was denied health insurance because of his weight. Fletcher said this diet allowed people to absorb nutrients, enjoy the taste of the food, and not gain weight. Famous followers include Henry James, John D. Rockefeller, and John Harvey Kellogg.

Calorie Counting - "Diet and Health, WIth Key to The Calories," by Lulu Hunt Peters, sold more than 2 million copies. The book advocated the consumption of only 1,200 calories a day. Calorie counting is still a popular dieting technique, but the numbers and approaches have changed over time.

Cigarette Diet - It seems shocking today, but when the health risks of cigarettes were just beginning to be discovered, cigarette companies tried to advertise their brand with a healthy spin. Prime example: Lucky Strikes' tagline was "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet."

The Inuit Meat-and-Fat Diet - Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson spent time living with the Inuit people and then wrote a book, "The Fat of the Land," advocating their meat-and-blubber rich diet. Cardiologist Blake Donaldson continued to promote this diet, which he called "Strong Medicine" into the 1960s.

The Hay Diet - During the Depression era, Dr. William Hay advocated separating food and eating different kinds at different times because he believed the body can't process proteins and starches at the same time. What started as a way for the doctor to deal with his high blood pressure caught on as a diet fad. The diet reappeared in another form in the 80s when Judy Mazel's book "New Beverly Hills Diet" hit book stores everywhere.

Weight Loss Soap - Soaps with names like "Fatoff" and "La Mar Reducing Soap" claimed to help people loose weight just by taking a bubble bath.

Bananas and Skim Milk Diet - In one of the first known instances of a company creating a marketing campaign that attempted to sell a produce by encouraging people to eat healthy, the United Fruit Company endorsed Dr. George Harrop and his bananas and skim milk diet.

First Diet Pills - During World War I workers in a munitions factory seemed to be loosing weight. It turns out that dinitrophenol, an ingredient used in dyes, explosives, and insecticides, raised people's metabolism, causing them to burn calories more easily. The ingredient was made into a pill and about 100,000 people in the U.S. used to to lose weight. Three years later, the pill was no longer sold due to reports of blindness and even death caused by the drug.

The Tapeworm Diet - People who really wanted to lose weight without having to go through the hassle of exercising could take a pill, get the parasite, and then take another pill after the tapeworm had eaten away at their insides.

Cabbage Soup Diet - The cabbage soup diet professed to help people lose 10 pounds in a week.

Weight Watchers - When Jean Nidetch lost 72 pounds on her diet, she started Weight Watchers to help others meet their weight-loss goals. The diet has stood the test of time and remains a popular diet even today.

The Calories Don't Count - Dr. Herman Taller, an obstetrician, believed people could eat as many high protein foods as they wanted, take his pill that contained three ounces of polyunsaturated vegetable oil, and lose weight. His book "Calories Don't Count" sold more than 2 million copies. Taller was later convicted of mail fraud over issues relating to his diet program.

The Drinking Man's Diet - Robert Cameron published a book in which he stated that men could eat steak and drink martinis freely and still lose weight. This diet, which The Harvard School of Public Health deemed unhealthy, is considered to be one of the first low-carbohydrate diets.

Atkins Diet - Dr. Robert Atkins overcame weight issues by sticking to a low-carbohydrate diet and then published the diet in a book so people every where could reap the benefits. This diet remains popular.

Scarsdale Diet - Dr. Herman Tarnower started this diet that promotes eating certain percentages of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The diet went for 14 days and suggested that followers consume only 1,000 per day.

Diet Pills - The diet pill Dexatrim, which reduces appetite, was sold in stores, then pulled from the market 2000 but was sold again later. Some people still question its safety.

2000s

The Zone - This diet focuses on eating certain percentages of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins at each meal. It also works to control insulin levels.

Vegetarian Diet - While there are several different types of vegetarian diets, one thing all vegetarians have in common is that they don't eat animal based foods, except eggs, dairy products, and honey.

Vegan Diet - Similar to the vegetarians, vegans abstain from eating animal based foods, but they do not eat eggs, dairy products, or honey.

South Beach - This diet, started by Dr. Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist, and Marie Almon, a nutritionist, works to control insulin levels and unrefined slow carbohydrates.

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Secrets to Yeast-Free Living at its Best

A yeast free diet is a diet that is followed by those who are yeast intolerant and is intended to inhibit the overgrowth of Candida yeast within the body. The dietary restrictions are focused around promoting health & the overall well being of the person.

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Why Most Diets Fail In The Long-Term

A comprehensive review of diet solutions leads to a number of conclusions. There are many players in this market. It is now is a multi-billion dollar industry world-wide. Millions try this diet and that diet but very few find a permanent solution to their weight problem. Millions are frustrated and downright discouraged in their utter failure to find the body weight of their dreams. It might seem that the last thing the diet world needs is another diet. However a fully qualified dietician Isabel De Los Rios has challenged all these diets by designing a diet that looks at lifestyle rather a specific diet package. Her Diet Solution Program goes right to the heart of why so many diets fail long-term. In this short article we will look at some of these issues and why her program is structured around lifestyle as the key to success.

A Diet Solution Review of Current Failures in the Diet Market

What lessons can be learned? Among the hundreds of packaged diets sold today in our drug stores and supermarkets and the diets promoted in our popular magazines what feature stands out as the most significant failure. The number one unrecognised issue among all these diets lies in fact that the vast majority of dieters who lose weight on any of these diets regain their original weight soon after finishing the diet. Ask any experienced dietician or nutritionist and they will all agree. Let's look at some of the conclusions that any diet solution review will highlight.

There is no Silver Bullet, no Magic Pill or Programme.

Many will find this hard to accept but this is the harsh reality. The company or person who does come up with this magic pill will make millions if not billions!. However as we look at weight-loss it is becoming clear that the chance of this ever becoming a reality is very slight indeed. We are talking about permanent weight loss here, not just losing weight over a few days or weeks.

Weight Returns as Soon as You Stop the Diet.

In our diet solution review it is hard to ignore the experience of millions. It is a Yo-Yo ride. Lose weight, but before you know it, the weight returns. Try another diet, same result. The diet merchants love you because you keep coming back for a try at another diet. Yes these diets work - you will lose weight while you are on them if you follow the program faithfully. You reach your target weight and come off the diet. Before you know it the weight is back on. These diets offer only short-term results. Millions lose out simply because they return to the diet or lifestyle that made them overweight in the first place!

Many Diets are Just a Threat to Your Good Health.

Is the solution to stay on your chosen diet. No. Generally you would risk your health if you were to stay on any of these diets long-term. None of the diets are a long-term solution. As you will see none of these diets have yet addressed the fundamental issue that is causing you to be overweight. At the heart of this diet solution review we need to discover the main cause of obesity in the western world.

Most Can't Exercise Discipline Long-term.

Stay on the diet long-term - most can't do it in the short-term! Living on milk shakes and diet bars is no way to live. We were made to enjoy good food. The discipline of living on these extremely restricted diets is hard. The temptation to cheat is always there. It never goes away. The social pressures either within the home, at work, among friends all provide real pressures to break the diet.

What About the Famous Diets Published in Books and Magazines?

Weather you found the diet in a book, a magazine, or newspaper look hard at the program. Does it provide for full nutrition? Low carb, low-fat, low anything, these diets will often compromise our need for a varied diet that provides full nutrition for a healthy lifestyle. Many of these diets are no better than the packaged diets in our supermarkets and drug stores. Beware of the long-term effects. Beware the boredom. In many cases beware the science. In this diet solution review think back to all the fad diets that have come and gone. Many are now in total disrepute.

Why Most Diets Fail - Long Term.

The fundamental flaw with almost all of these diets lies in our 21s t century lifestyle. Most of us have lost sight of what really is good food. We now buy so much of our food from the supermarket. The major food companies do most of the food preparation for us. It saves us time and it is very convenient. What is even worse is our growing dependence on fast food outlets. All prepared food is loaded with preservatives, flavour enhancers, food colorings, artificial sweeteners, salt, and sugar in huge quantities. Add to this list a host of chemicals that for the most part have only numbers for a name. Most of us have no idea what they are and what we are eating. We have come to trust our food manufacturers. Is this trust misplaced?. We need food, not chemicals.

The reality is our bodies and our livers are overloaded with all these chemicals. Our livers are the organ that deals with fat within the body. It also has the job of removing all these chemicals and other impurities. It has to do this first. If the liver has to remove all these chemicals it cannot function to deal with fat as it should. It fails to burn fat as it would normally do. Our livers then store fat in the body and we put on weight. This is why most diets fail. The major cause of obesity in this 21st century is the food we eat. However convenient these prepared foods may be for us, they are killing us. Never forget that food is medicine for our bodies. We need fresh food, not packaged food full of chemicals. Our diet solution review leads us to only one conclusion - we need a lifestyle change not another diet.

Frank Rogers writes on diet, weight loss and lifestyle. From a very young age Frank was exposed to healthy living, much of which were negative issues like the things that we were not supposed to eat. Looking back over the decades he can laugh at much of what was taught. However Frank has never lost that initial interest in health, but today sees health issues as a positive force rather than a series of negative restrictions on a daily diet.

Having lived in many different parts of the world Frank is not afraid to embrace new and radical ideas if they have a foundation in reality. Two very different programs challenge much of contemporary thinking and he feels they are worth a closer evaluation.

To learn more of the need for lifestyle change visit

http://www.burnfathowto.com

and find two very successful fat burning programs. Both of these programs could be life changing for those who are finding it difficult to lose weight.

The Dukan Diet Fast Weight Loss Program - Read This If You're On The Fence

The Dukan diet is hot news, there are many people proclaiming the diet as their weight loss savior and there are others panning the diet regime as a fad and flash in the pan. Well, as far as flash in the pan goes, I don't care about the 10 year history of the fast weight loss plan, nor do I give a fig about the tens of thousands evangelizing the Dukan. I have a year of experience myself and I have the combined testimony of 1000s of people on our Dukan diet dairy forum all standing by the diet and providing evidence that yes, this regime does work. All I care about is genuine people, honestly sharing their Dukan dieting experiences.

And in this spirit, I'd like to share some experiences myself. There has been some criticism that people who lose weight on the Dukan diet put weight back on. Well, hello, welcome to the real world. There are people who go on diets, who successfully lose weight and then go back to their old ways and, inevitably, the weight comes back. What's wrong with this?

I'll tell you what's wrong with this... nothing!

It makes me wonder what planet these critics of the Dukan diet are on when they lay into people who lost weight on the Dukan diet but then put some weight back on. This can happen to anyone. Sometimes, for some people, events and circumstances take precedence and you know what? The diet sometimes doesn't seem so important. And Amen to that.

I've always, from the first post on this Dukan diet dairy to this post, maintained that if your diet solution is making you miserable, or if your weight suddenly isn't the most important thing in your life, then make a change. I've met enough wonderful and beautiful people who are, what our Society calls, overweight, whom I've respected and valued that I know for sure that size and shape matters little when it comes to assessing a person's worth. I've also met people for whom their weight and shape makes them miserable and they want to change.

For the people who want to change... and only to them and for the sole reason that they want to change, I recommend the Dukan diet. Why? Because, it is the quickest, easiest and most life-changing weight loss solution I have ever experienced.

If you want to lose weight - like I wanted to lose weight when I was 30lbs heavier than I felt happy with - then the Dukan diet must be a candidate for consideration.

Critics of the diet claim that it isn't balanced. My answer to that? If you're overweight, if you're living off fast food, snacks, chocolate and sweets - how balanced is your diet right now? The Dukan diet introduces vegetables and then fruits, whole wheat breads and oat bran in a way than makes these ingredients warmly anticipated and looked forward to. Before I went on the Dukan diet, I hated and avoided all fruit and vegetables. Now these foods are a cherished part of my weekly menu.

Being overweight most of my adult life, I flitted from diet to diet either never losing any significant weight or losing 30 lbs and then putting it all back on again within weeks of ending the diet.

The Dukan Diet isn't like this. Why? Well I believe that the reason that this diet is different is because the Dukan diet, unlike other diets, teaches you to appreciate, enjoy and look forward to healthy fruits and vegetables.

I thought I was a hopeless case. In my thirties and set in my ways. I knew what foods I liked and wanted and nothing was going to change this. In fact, I felt hopeless. I thought that this was the way I was and increasing weight gain was going to be an inevitable aspect of my life.

Well I was wrong!

And I thank goodness I discovered the Dukan diet.

The Dukan diet changed the way I think about food - for the better - and it was this change that enabled me to lose weight, and keep the weight off, so easily. I bought the official book, for less than I previously spent on one meal at McDonalds, KFC, or Burger King, and followed the plan. Within the first few days I was visibly losing weight without feeling hunger. This was the easiest and quickest diet I had ever been on!

But the biggest surprise for me was my anticipation - the way I looked forward to - healthy and nutritious vegetables. And this wasn't because I was hungry! Far from it. Before starting this diet, I used to awake not feeling hungry only to feel starving a hour or so later. For the rest of the day, all I could think about was food. By the end of the day I'd eaten so much I felt stuffed and bloated. I was plagued with the symptoms of over-indulgence - heartburn, indigestion and bloatedness.

Within a day or so of beginning the diet I'd not only said goodbye to these unpleasant symptoms but I'd lost those powerful food-cravings that made my life so miserable.

I learned to appreciate what I was putting into my mouth and my taste-buds started over. Within a couple of weeks eating healthy and nutritious food wasn't some far-off hope but a daily reality.

I believe that the success of the Dukan diet is purely down to results. The way this regime works is simple, although some seem to believe it is some kind of diet 'magic'. The high protein content and low carbohydrate makes the body feel full and satisfied quicker. The typical Western diet, it seems to me, is full of fat and carbs, two things that increase appetite rather than satisfy it - why do you think restaurants offer fatty snacks like peanuts to encourage the appetite?

With the appetite naturally suppressed, I believe we have a chance to stop and think about what we're eating without constantly craving those delicious but deadly sweet and fatty snacks.

The Dukan diet is a fast weight loss diet. This means that people should notice that you've lost weight within days of beginning the regime. What better motivation to keep on going than the thought of what you've already accomplished?

I used to easily give up diets after a few weeks simply because I was craving food and couldn't see that I'd actually accomplished anything by starving myself! In fact you gain nothing by starving yourself. Any weight you initially lose will always be put back on. This diet is not a starvation diet - you can eat as much as you want while following the Dukan regime! Even while eating until you feel like stopping, if you follow this diet, you'll be losing weight. And the weight loss should be quick! Imagine being 3 weeks into a new diet, with friends and acquaintances already complimenting you on your obvious weight loss! How easily would you give that achievement up?

The Dukan diet is not a miracle diet. Nor is it some magical weight loss program that guarantees you'll shed with pounds with no effort. But in my opinion, and the opinion of hundreds of people using our forum alone, the Dukan diet is the easiest, quickest and most satisfying weight loss program currently out there.

Start the change now. You can follow my progress on the Dukan diet from day one of the attack phase until the end. I have included all my recipes and menu ideas as well as top tips in getting the most out of your Dukan diet experience. If you're ready to lose weight fast without hunger click Dukan diet to begin your journey.