South Beach Diet & Other Weight Loss

Janney Luler asked:


No matter what you may have heard about fast weight loss and fad diets, do not believe it. The all that speedy fast or quick diet methods are not the way to get slim if you want to have a healthy life. I suggest you to avoid it at all costs. Don’t be fooled by any advertisements, no matter how convincing it sounds.

A healthy diet plan should be a process that takes periods of time, especially if you want to lose from five pounds up. It’s not an overnight process. However, the number of kilos or pounds you want to get rid of isn’t the point here. But the point is that how you are going to get rid of unwanted weight that you’ve been putting on for many years in a couple of weeks.

The fast diet solution doesn’t exist. If you want to live your life with least health problem. You surely don’t go around hunger yourself or stop sleeping just to lose weight in a short length of time, it is not a healthy way to deal with overweight problem. It is just going to make things worst, if you are not healthy or you’ve become very ill by the wrong diet process then there’s nothing that matters anymore is it? Ask any diet expert they will agree with this statements. Use your sense about dieting, exercise more and live your life with healthier food is always the safest diet plan.

You may say that there are some fast diet crash course and fad diets out there that really work but what you don’t know that it has many drawbacks. Yes, I agree that the fast method will get rid of unwanted weight that has been discrediting your look in no time. But the extra pounds will just come right back to where it came from (you) in no time as well right after you stop the crash diet. Not to mention side effects to your body and mental health.

Fad diets are really the idea of secret pills or special food that can make a miracle of quick weight loss happens. Just keep doing it you will be fine… May be? The real world, it doesn’t work that way at all. You may know a friend who swears by a diet plan that only involves cabbage soup. Well, that’s not going to do it. Eating it too much can make you fat as well.

There is no real records that say food such as cabbage soup or grape fruit diet are they right approach to get slimmer. They all have calories for everybody. Even you eat the least of caloric will make you lose weight no matter if you drink cabbage soup or don’t. Limiting your daily food to some supposedly secret recipe is definitely not the way to go.

Super quick or fast weight loss does make it difficult for your body and of course, the most important is your heart. The sudden change forces the body to adjust too quickly or over its limit. Combine with starving yourself it is a sign of fad diets, you are harming yourself in many ways. In another word, forcing your body to lose weight too fast will only harm your health.

There is no cheat of dieting healthily. So, balanced your daily food with fruits and vegetables. Stop eating snacks, fast foods and food or drinks with lots of sugar. Go out enjoy the sun or a near by shopping mall by walking, running, walking your dog, play sport is always a enjoyable choice which help you exercise more regularly. Any exercise is good. You will thank yourself for being healthy and happy after some years when you look back and say “I’ve done the right thing for my body”.

Wesley Atkins asked:


The Low GI Diet is one of the most popular diets currently around. While it was originally developed in the 1980’s as a way to help diabetes patients control their disease it was found that it also provided numerous other benefits including the promotion of weight loss.

The idea behind the diet is to fill your diet with foods that are low on the glycemic index rather than foods that are high on the index. Foods which should be avoided or limited include high processed and refined foods. Of course, this includes most breads and many desserts such as pies and cakes.

Compared to many other diets the Low GI Diet is actually much easier to follow; however, there are some tips that can help you to make the process simpler and less complicated.

While many people get started with the Low GI Diet believing they must only select foods that are low on the GI scale there is another important component that can help you to achieve better results. Avoiding and limiting foods that high in saturated fats can help you to lose weight as well as reduce your chance of developing heart disease. When you consume foods that are too high in saturated fats you can become less responsive to insulin and that can translate into forcing your body to produce more insulin. As your body feels forced to produce more insulin you are at risk for developing diabetes as well as weight.

It’s also a good idea to fill your diet with at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day. While other diets restrict the consumption of many fruits and even some vegetables because they may be considered to be high carb foods, on the Low GI Diet you can enjoy plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as long as they are low on the glycemic index. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables also have other advantages as well such as reducing the risk of developing many cancers as well as other life threatening conditions such as heart disease. Additionally, research suggests that eating different fruits and vegetables can help to boost antioxidants which boost your immune system and help you to fight disease. Ideally, it’s best to aim for a wide variety of fruit and vegetables to achieve the best results.

Under the Low GI Diet you can easily select cereals and breads as long as they are comprised of wholegrains. These foods rank low on the glycemic index because whole grain foods tend to be digested slower by the body. This is a good way to also boost your intake of fiber, which can result in lowering your cholesterol level as well as changes of heart disease and cancer.

It’s also a good idea to try and replace a small number of large quantity meals with more small meals during the day. This is because some research indicates that even low GI foods can have a tendency to raise the body’s blood sugar levels to unhealthy levels when they are consumed in large quantities at one time. By eating several smaller meals on a regular basis you can avoid this problem. One way to do this is to bring small healthy, low GI snacks with you to much on during the day.

Finally, don’t forget to consume a wide variety of foods for the best healthy benefits. Remember that you do not have to totally avoid foods that are high on the glycemic index; simply eat them sparingly in smaller quantities so they do not have such an impact on your blood sugar.

Along with regular exercise and an otherwise healthy and active lifestyle, the Low GI Diet can help you to lose the weight you want and enjoy a healthier life.

Ethan Miller asked:


The Dr. Atkins low-carb diet thumps traditional diets in weight loss research. The study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev pitted the low-carb diet against Mediterranean and low-fat diets. Low-carb was declared the winner in helping the most people lose the most weight.

The research produced even bigger news. The low-card diet improved cholesterol levels more than the other diets.

The study lasted for two years, which was much longer than most diet studies. In addition, 85% of the 322 people who began the test stuck with the plan for the entire two years.

Most of the participants in the study were men and both men and women get roughly equal amounts of exercise. The average weight loss for people in the low-carb group was 10.3 pounds at the end of the two year study.

The Mediterranean diet group come in a close second as the average weight loss per person was 10 pounds. The low fat dieters finished in third place with 6.5 pounds of average weight loss.

The low-carb diet provided a big surprise for researchers when it was found that the diet also provided an important reduction in the level of cholesterol. That included an improvement in the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL. HDL is considered the “good” cholesterol.

The diet study was done in a controlled environment in Israel. The participants were employees of an isolated nuclear-research company. There were few sources of food nearby, so the study group took all of their meals in the facility’s cafeteria. To maintain control of the study appropriate foods for each diet were identified by colored dots. Participants had their choice of foods marked with the color of their diet plan

The low-fat diet was designed to allow consumption of no more than 30% of calories from fat. In addition it restricted the intake of calories and cholesterol. It controlled that intake by focusing the diet on low-fat grains, vegetables and fruits.

With the Mediterranean style diet the food emphases was on poultry, fish, olive oil and nuts.

The low-carb diet plan limited consumption of carbohydrates, but set no limits for calories or fats. It was suggested that participants in that group choose from vegetarian sources of fat and protein.

Someone with total cholesterol of 200 and an HDL of 50 would have a ratio of 4 to 1. The American Heart Association recommends an optimum ratio of 3.5 to 1. A low ratio reduces the risk of hardening of the arteries. For those on the low-carb diets the ratio declined by 20%, 16 for the Mediterranean diet and 12% for those on the low fat diet.

Research published last year shows a low-carb diet wins again when it comes to blood pressure. It was found that overweight women on the Atkins low-carb plan had slightly better blood pressure and cholesterol readings when compared with women on the Zone diet and Ornish diet.

Yes, anyone who is serious about losing pounds, maintaining good cholesterol and controlling blood pressure, can have high hopes with the Atkins low-carb diet.

Thomas Fox asked:


Regular fruits such as strawberries, bananas, and peaches are no longer the only ingredients used in these smoothies. More and more nutrition aficionados are migrating to foreign or at least versatile fruits to mix their smoothie concoctions. Healthy drink mixes are under redesign.

A frequent fruit often used is the Mangosteen. This queen of fruits is not available for sale in the United States. This is because of the added problems associated with the Mediterranean fruit fly infestation upon its importing. Regardless, fruit enthusiasts are able to buy the fruit as a juice or capsule form. Mangosteen is a tropical fruit from Southeast Asia. It’s about the size of a small apple and contains a delicious white interior that breaks off in wedges similar to a mandarin.

Researchers found it has anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, and cancer-fighting uses. The Indonesian fruit studies continue and there is scientific suggestion that this tropical wonder contains many properties that improve wellness to say the least.

Researchers (Matsumoto K, Akao Y, Kobayashi E, Ohguchi K, Ito T, Tanaka T, Iinuma M, Nozawa Y: Gifu International Institute of Biotechnology, 1-1 Naka-Fudogaoka, Kakamigahara, August 2003) said “We examined the effects of six xanthones from the pericarps of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, on the cell growth inhibition of human leukemia cell line HL60. All xanthones displayed growth inhibitory effects. Among them, alpha-mangosteen showed complete inhibition at 10 microM through the induction of apoptosis.”

Found in India and the Tahitian Islands, the fruit of the Noni tree has powerful antioxidant properties, anti-depressant uses, and immune system enhancing properties. Additionally, a fruit also applied used in smoothies is the Noni. Scientists suggest it is a cancer-fighting agent as well. This 12-times harvest hails from Southeast Asia as well. Scientists suggest it is a cancer-fighting agent as well.

In the NCCAM Publication D298 of 2007, scientists have published a clinical study wherein Noni (Morinda Citrufolia) has demonstrated high antioxidant levels, as a result immune system enhancement, and evidence that it may battle cancerous sells. Tumors in rats have dramatically decreased in size when exposed to Noni.

The Acai Berry has high fiber content and is believed to have the capability to cleanse the body of toxins. Investigations into this berry’s content show it is also useful for improving the circulatory system, aiding in wellness and reduction of inflammations. The fruity surprise from western tropical areas, the Acai berry, mostly growing in Central and South American tropical regions is another fruity smoothie vitamin blended mix. This berry is the size of a grape and a dark bluish-red color.

These antioxidants aid in the fight against the damaging effects of chronic diseases that come from the aging process. Blueberries contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E. They also contain anthocyanins and phenolics, which contain inhibiting cancer-cell properties. The above fruity riches are possible add-ins one can flavor to come up with their own custom creation. These are medicinal that one can add-in in combination with blueberries.

While blueberries can be found more easily, the other fruits and berries will require some research to hunt them down. An enhanced mix of vitamins created with exotic nutrients, can enhance a diet lifestyle with health and wellness. Many distributors sell juice versions of these tropical’s ready for mixing into a smoothie beverage. Any fruits for smoothies you want to include in your vita mix, be it tropical or exotic, wild or tame, you can get it online or offline.

Depressed patients that feel better about themselves are able to adapt to more positive thinking and action. As a result they increase their ability to follow their leaders and gain better social skills. Built-up people own the world they walk in; they feel their self-esteem. This leads to a better mental attitude, which can halt depression in its tracks. The dynamic energy arising from vita mixes filled with antioxidant powers are motivation enough for trying them. Exotic energizing fruits aid greatly in giving people a sense of vitality that enable them to be more productive throughout the day.

Ultimately, foods with Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) rating are best to add-in with your smoothies. ORAC will help you build up your immune system and through antioxidants in these foods, berries, vegetables, or fruits; it will help you feel well. These mixes of ORAC-rich ingredients are also pretty tasty.

Tarja Anchor asked:


The low-glycemic index (low GI) diet and the low-carb diet are two popular diets in use today by those who want to lose weight.

A low-carb diet severely restricts the number of carbohydrates you eat in total and does not much always distinguish between unrefined versus refined carbohydrates. It concentrates on including protein, fats and low carbohydrate vegetables, such as greens.

By contrast, a low glycemic index diet encourages the inclusion of all food groups and does not severely limit carbohydrates, but discourages the use of foods that register high on the glycemic index, meaning simple sugars that break down in the body quickly and cause spikes in blood sugar. It excludes foods such as white flour, white rice, sugar and foods like white potatoes in excess. However, it encourages the use of slow burning, complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and bread made from whole-wheat flour, foods that break down slowly and cause a steady, even release of glucose into the bloodstream, thus avoiding spikes in blood sugar and this way aid in weight loss.

Although the low-carb diet, among the most popular of which is the Atkins diet, will make you lose weight quickly, much of this weight loss will initially be water. Consuming high amounts of animal protein can strain the kidneys, because excess animal protein must be excreted through the kidneys - it cannot be stored. This also can encourage bone loss that, in severe cases, can lead to osteoporosis, because, when excess animal protein is excreted through the kidneys, it must bind with calcium to do so. Finally, having excess animal protein in the diet can also lead to gout and arthritis. Diets high in saturated fat can also lead to prostate and colon cancers.

Of course, so severely restricting the carbohydrate food group, which includes not only grains and cereals but fruits and vegetables, can result in its followers not getting enough important nutrients that can only be found in plant foods, especially complex carbohydrates. It is also not to be used on children, since complex carbohydrates provide an important source of energy for neurological and overall growth. This is also the argument against its long-term use in adults, although adults can better withstand short-term exclusion of carbohydrates because they do not have the energy needs children do for physical and neurological growth.

Finally, a major drawback to low carbohydrate diets is that fiber is so severely restricted with the exclusion of complex carbohydrates that, in order to avoid constipation, users must take a fiber supplement. However, if users were to consume complex carbohydrates in reasonable amounts instead, not only would they get fiber from them, but they would also get important nutrients lacking in low-carb diets.

Restricting vegetables and fruit can be linked to a higher risk of esophageal, oral and stomach cancers, as well as the aforementioned colon cancer. Incidentally, the low-carb, high animal protein diet is also very hard on the environment, since having animals consume vegetable products to produce meat rather than having humans directly consume vegetable products themselves is a very inefficient way to produce food and produces a lot of waste via animal excretion that pollutes the environment and wastes a lot of water as well.

Therefore, instead of following a strict low-carb diet, most experts advise following a diet that is low in simple carbohydrates such as refined flowers and sugars, but includes complex carbohydrates, such as wheat flour, brown rice, fruits and vegetables, plus a moderate amount of good fats such as fish oil and olive oil.

Saturated fat, such as that from red meat, should be limited, and trans-fats should be avoided altogether. Protein sources low in saturated fat, such as beans and legumes, fish, chicken and turkey, should be consumed in moderation. Drinking enough water and getting plenty of exercise are also important for any weight loss program.

Wesley Atkins asked:


The most popular diet for diabetics has made its way into the weight loss arena and is proving to be quite successful. For years, the Low Glycemic Index Diet has been used as a tool to help diabetics manage their blood glucose levels. Once it was discovered that this diet for diabetics could also aid in weight loss it became popular with a host of individuals.

One of the reasons that this diet for diabetics works so well is the strong correlation between improper weight management and the presence of diabetes. While not everyone who suffers from diabetes developed the disease due to weight problems a large majority have been discovered to have developed diabetes as a

result of obesity. This is because certain foods tend to raise the blood sugar levels in the body higher and faster than other foods. When that happens the body has a built in check system to return the blood glucose levels to their normal state.

In order to do this the pancreas must release insulin which transports excess blood sugar or blood glucose into storage. Everything is find as long as we work off or use of those stores of blood sugar and this is not required too often. Problems arise; however, when we do not burn off the stored blood sugar and we force our pancreas to overwork by consuming too many foods that cause our blood sugar to skyrocket.

When the body is not able to burn off the stores of blood sugar it turns to fat and that results in being overweight. That is not the end of the problem; however. When we frequently maintain a diet that is high in foods that raise our blood sugar, over time, the pancreas becomes overworked and may shut down. This is when diabetes steps into the picture. Often diabetes and obesity go hand in hand.

The low GI diet was developed as a way to aid diabetics in selecting foods which would not raise their blood sugar levels too high after consuming them. It was hoped that this would remove the drain on the pancreas. This diet for diabetics was found to be quite successful in this regard and was also determined to have the added benefit of helping individuals who followed it lose weight.

The basis of the diet is the glycemic index, which ranks carbohydrates according to how quickly the body is able to digest them. Foods which can be easily digested by the body rank higher on the index and tend to raise the body’s blood glucose levels higher than other foods. According to the diet, these foods should be consumed sparingly. Other foods are not broken down the body so easily and therefore do not have as much of an effect on the body’s blood sugar levels. Some foods even have no effect at all and can be eaten without fear of any restrictions.

High processed and refined foods tend to rank high on the glycemic index most frequently. Individuals following the diet for diabetics are encouraged to avoid or minimize their intake of these foods.

It should be understood that unlike many other diets that may sound similar in nature, the diet for diabetics does not require total exclusion of carbohydrates. Some carbs are actually good and can be eaten. Ideally, adults are recommended to stick with a diet that includes at least 130 grams of carbs per day to provide fuel for the body. This, of course, assumes that you are maintaining an otherwise healthy and active lifestyle. If, for some, reason you are unable to be active, you may need a lower daily intake of carbs.

Robert Baird asked:


Weight loss diet programs are considered to be immensely beneficial in causing weight loss. The growing awareness regarding the ill-effects of obesity has greatly facilitated the popularity of weight loss supplements and diet programs. Here it is necessary to bear in mind that before indulging in a weight loss diet, one must take the opinion of a certified medical practitioner or a dietician to ensure that the weight loss diet is suitable to one’s body type and that the prevailing health conditions allow him to undertake that diet. One must also remember that a balanced diet is the key to a healthy body and that fasting or starvation is definitely not what going for a weight loss diet implies. Low carb diets or low carbohydrate diets are one of the most popular forms of weight loss diets and over the years it has achieved immense popularity because of its effectiveness in securing considerable weight loss. A low carb diet simply implies a diet program which ensures that the amount of digestible carbohydrates are reduced in consumption and replaced by moderately higher proportions of fats and proteins. Some of the most popular low carb diet programs include Dr. Atkins diet program, Stillman’s diet and several others. In the decade from the 1990s to 2000, it was noticed that about 18% of the population in the United States of America had sought allegiance to these low carb diet programs and it constituted one of the most popular diet programs in USA. Many of the proponents of these low carb diets also ensured that they reduced or controlled the trans fats. The huge popularity of the low carb diet programs initiated various restaurants and food joints to introduce low carb food items within their menu in order to popularize them among consumers while ensuring profits as well. Low carbohydrate diets are in fact similar to the low glycemic index diets and propound the lowering of the nutritive carbohydrates, also known as ‘net carbs’.

Over the years, low carb diets have encouraged mixed reactions. While a section has openly admired its credibility in aiding weight loss, this diet program has also been subjected to a lot of flak and criticism as well. It is alleged that since this diet program is more susceptible to causing weakness or fatigue, it cannot be supported ably by an exercising regimen. Intake of higher protein content as a substitute for carbohydrates can result in cardiovascular diseases.

Phyllis Ekleberry asked:


(c) 2008 Phyllis Ekleberry

Weight loss supplements and weight loss programs are designed and retailed on a daily basis to help those who need to lose that weight. Researchers world wide have developed weight loss patches, supplements and pills to help the over weight individual. Add to this, all the people who have designed their own weight loss programs

Wow, with this many diet programs on the market, what are you as a concerned dieter suppose to do? You need to know up front that even though you may purchase these diet programs or plans or take weight loss supplements, you will also have to change your lifestyle.

You are going to have to change the way you eat and exercise more. There is no way around it; if you are wanting to loss the weight, burn the fat, develop those ever so appealing six packs, then you must change the calorie intake as well as the calorie usage. Long story short- if you don’t burn more calories than you eat - you are NOT going to lose weight!

Have you ever bought the newest ebook, program or article touting weight loss or fat burning? I bet you have bought an exercise video to get you jump-started or bought countless supplements that are suppose to promote weight-loss or fat burning? Have you sat glued to the television as some “fitness” expert touts his/ her way as the ONLY way? How about your computer, have you surfed for the latest and greatest diet, diet supplement or weight loss plan?

If you have done any of these things, you have probably been lied to. I know, they have countless testimonials and great pictures so why can’t you be just like those individuals and lose all your fat. You could lose the weight like they did- couldn’t you?

Weight loss ebooks, books, tapes, videos, programs, supplements and advice are a dime a dozen. Some of these weight loss supplements have conducted clinical trial while some have had no testing - other than to test you to see how fast you could let go of the money. With all of this uncollaborated information flying at you from all corners of the world, how can you protect yourself from just throwing your money away? I realize that you want to lose weight, but come on- let’s do it the right way!

How can you protect yourself from getting wrapped up into a diet that is not safe, ineffective or unrealistic?

You protect yourself by looking at the research behind it, the clinical studies - was it double-blind tested, read all the claims (good and bad), if there is an email address next to a testimonial, write them, and of course the ingredients (if it a supplement, patch, or prescription meds).

Protect yourself by making sure that everything in the supplement is natural and safe. There should be no additional chemicals or ingredients added in for good measure, because you only want natural, organic ingredients in your diet supplement or diet patch. Even in small portions, hazardous or dangerous chemicals are still not good for you.

Please make sure that you have addressed the BIG question Why you are over-weight?

Do you eat because you are hungry,because you think you will get a surge of energy or because you are depressed or stressed? Are you bored so you just eat or do you enjoy eating (the chewing factor)?

Some people think they are eating just a tad because they have made it a habit to grab just a little bite as you pass by the food! You know that if you just take a small bit, then take another small bite, you are never sure how much you have actually eaten. But you look down and low and behold - it’s gone - all of it!

By all means please protect your health and your life !Before starting any diet, go to your family doctor and have him/ her examine you to make sure that there are no under lying issues to your weight gain. Ask your family doctor if you are healthy enough to lose weight. Then choose an appropriate weight loss program.

After all, your weight loss is the primary mission. It is one of the hardest things to do next to lowering your debt. Why? Because a good diet program takes will power, consistency and determination. You have to approach it the same way you approach work. On a daily basis. You must change the way you view food and respond to food.

Approach the weight loss program knowing you have to increase your output and decrease your input. Get some support while you are losing weight. It does not have to be a support group of over weight individuals, although sometimes those are great. Consider asking someone from your church or gym to help you. Be accountable to someone other than yourself. A diet buddy can help motivate you and keep you focused on your weight loss goal.

Rebecca Prescott asked:


PCOS is a condition that has a strong impact on a woman’s fertility, and affects between 5% to 10% of women of child bearing age. Because a woman’s body doesn’t produce enough eggs when she suffers from PCOS, it can cause infertility and contribute to difficulties in falling pregnant.

Most cases of PCOS are not genetic, but they are all related to hormonal abnormalities. The reason not enough eggs are produced is because of an excess of the androgen, or ‘male’ hormones. Both men and women have androgen hormones, but men have them in much greater quantities. This hormonal imbalance means that the cysts that are a normal part of producing eggs, do not grow. So a woman with PCOS has a lot of small cysts on her ovaries that do not mature to release their eggs. Normally, once this process happened, the cysts would go.

Another consequence of the higher levels of androgen hormones is the increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, as well as a likelihood of having more facial hair.

Interestingly, low carb diets such as the zone diet may help overweight women with PCOS. A recent study of 11 non diabetic, overweight women with PCOS who had an average age of 33 was conducted. The study compared a ’standard’ diet with 56% carbohydrates and 16% protein, with a lower carb diet of 43% carbohydrate and 15% protein. The fat component of the lower carb diet was a lot higher than the standard diet, by 14%. This is higher than it would be in the Zone diet. The fat content of the low carb diet was almost evenly split between polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids. The fat content of the standard diet was almost evenly split between the two types of fatty acids, but was slightly higher (by 3%) in the monounsaturated variety.

A third diet, one high in both carbohydrates and monounsaturated fatty acids, was also compared. The study participants only followed each diet for 16 days. They had a 3 week break between each diet, and tried all 3.

Because production of the androgen hormones are influenced by the presence of insulin, the researchers were interested in finding out whether a low carb diet could reduce the amount of insulin circulating in the body. They believed this would have an indirectly positive effect on PCOS.

The results of this study found that whilst hormones that were circulating weren’t significantly affected by the lower carb diet, the women’s cholesterol, fasting insulin levels, free fatty acids, and their response to insulin were positively affected. The fact that their response to insulin improved is an indicator of the possible benefit of a low carb diet to PCOS sufferers. And because the women only followed the diet for 16 days, this may be why their levels of circulating insulin were not more prominently affected.

The authors of the study state that: “Because elevated insulin is thought to contribute to the endocrine abnormalities in PCOS, a reduction in insulin would be expected to ultimately result in an improved endocrine profile.”

They go on to say that these improvements indicate that using a low carb type diet, with a lower calorie intake, would probably benefit overweight women who suffer from PCOS.

Not all low carb diets are created equal however. The Atkins diet has been associated with an increased risk of heart problems for some, as well as being implicated in the hospitalization of others.

A 40 year old woman was hospitalized with very high levels of acids in her blood as a result of following the Atkins diet strictly for about a month. The release of acids in the blood, called ketosis, is an indicator of the ’success’ of the Atkins diet, and is actually a result of the process of starving the body of certain nutrients beyond a threshold level. The nutrient being, of course, carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are a source of energy for the body, the only source used by the brain. But when the body is deprived of carbohydrates after the threshold level, it will use alternate methods of metabolizing energy. It uses stored fats and protein, but this is not a very biologically efficient way of producing energy for the body. So, there are a lot of acidic metabolic by products, called ketones. These are released into the bloodstream, to be excreted by the body.

In the case of this woman, these metabolic by products weren’t excreted fast enough and built up in her bloodstream. She was vomiting 4 to 6 times a day. This build up of blood acids represented a dangerous situation and she was admitted to intensive care.

The Atkins Foundation responded that this woman must have had abnormal metabolic or clinical issues. But given that this woman, who was obese, is in a category at which the Atkins diet is marketed, there is a real cause for concern here. With obesity, there is a greater likelihood for both general medical problems, and metabolic problems. If an obese person did not have metabolic problems of one form or another, they would not be obese. Perhaps there were circumstances that were particular to this woman here, but until those potential dangers are understood more fully, this is a significant issue. It’s ironic that a diet should be implied as not being suitable for anyone with metabolic issues, particularly if this diet is marketed as a ‘way of life’ – that is, recommended for long term use.

Low Jeremy asked:


With the sudden boom of dieting in the country, different diet programs have been introduced in the country. Although many experts believe that proper exercise and not only diet can lose those pounds in a healthy way, many people still believe in the power of diet programs and diet plans. One of the most controversial kinds of diet plans is the low-carbohydrate diet program, which focuses on the reduction of carbohydrate consumption in the body.

According to the theory, when carbohydrates are no longer being taken in, the body will be forced to use fats and water as alternative sources of energy; thereby helping to shed off those unwanted pounds.

Fats, unbeknownst to many, can actually be converted to energy. The body just doesn’t use it as the first priority because it is more complex in structure and therefore, harder to break down and convert into energy. Among the popular low carbohydrate diets in the country is the Atkins diet.

Despite arguments from its critics, low carbohydrate diet has proven its effectiveness in terms of losing that extra weight. To date, it counts millions of followers not only in the country but also outside America.

Actually, cutting down on carbohydrates in the diet is a practice that people have been doing for years. When people cut down on their rice or bread or do not eat rice at all, they are reducing their carbohydrate intake. Of course, because it is not an official diet plan they are not really restricting themselves completely. When you are under a diet plan, you are not allowed to eat any kind of carbohydrates.

One of the advantages of low carbohydrate diet is the fact that it can actually increase the levels of good cholesterol in the body. This is really good news to people who have a heart problem. This is perhaps the reason why Atkins diet was used for cardio patients. This diet plan can also reduce the amount of triglycerides in the body. Triglycerides can be dangerous when combined with a high level of LDL or bad cholesterol. Both can increase the risk for heart attack and heart disease.

Low carb diet plans are also found to be good in balancing mood swings. They will not be prone to extreme lows such as depression or extreme high. People who are under the program are found to have fairly stable energy levels unlike those with high carbo levels.