Low Carb Diet Plan that Works

Carbohydrate consumption is to be restricted, if you wish to reduce your weight. Do you know that a low carb diet plan is the most popularly prescribed diet routine given to the obese? Carbohydrates are essential to maintain the flow of energy in our body. So, carbs cannot be cut out totally. Simple and complex carbohydrates are the two types of carbs required by our bodies. Simple carbohydrates are easily digested, as they can be easily broken down by the enzymes in our body. Complex carbohydrates are hard to digest. Though, carbohydrates are good for health, excess amounts of carbohydrates may prove to be harmful for the body. It should also be noted that after following a low carb diet, one doesn't feel tired and drained.

Popular Low Carbohydrate Diet Plans

Age, gender, physical activities, health, habits are to be taken into consideration, before adopting any of these diet plans.

Zone Diet: Designed by a biochemist Barry Sears, the zone diet prescribes the intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the proportions of 40:30:30. Calorie consumption is to be constantly checked. 'Our body is the specific zone and the food consumed is the prescribed drug to stimulate the hormones, so as to keep the zone safe and protected,' is the principle behind this diet routine.

Atkins Diet: Dr. Robert Atkins first formulated this weight loss diet plan. Trans fats which have no nutritional value, are found in meat and dairy products. They are also obtained as a result of industrial food processing. Atkins diet lays importance on the elimination of trans fats as well as refined carbohydrates such as flour, corn syrup and sugar among others. Induction phase, ongoing weight loss phase, pre-maintenance phase, lifetime maintenance phase are the four main phases of Atkins diet.

Protein Power: This regime was designed by Michael and Mary Dan Eades. This plan insists on having a high protein and low carb intake. If you love to eat non-vegetarian dishes, this is a suitable diet as it will allow you to enjoy protein-rich food, like fish and meat.

Neanderthin Diet: This diet plan was designed by Ray Audette, and is also known as the caveman's diet or paleolithic diet, as it consists of naturally available food items like fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and meat. Here emphasis is given to unprocessed food.

Low Carb Diet

For Men
Men should follow a balanced diet plan, whether it is designed for healthy weight loss or body building. A wide variety of dishes can be enjoyed by choosing from various combinations from the low carb food list. You can choose any low carb diet plan that works for you, according to your liking and eating habits, but the meals should be planned well in advance, so that you don't have to eat any unwanted food because of the unavailability of the required food items. The intake of carbohydrates should be well-distributed over breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner. For example, start with a good breakfast consisting of eggs, low carb biscuits, milk and cereal. Eating lots of green vegetables as salads or in the form of light soups is very effective. Do not eat fast food. You can have delicious spinach for lunch and tempting chicken breast for dinner.

For Women
Low carb diets are popular amongst women as weight loss diets. Particularly, women after 45, find 'weight loss' quite difficult. For them, it is necessary to follow a low carb diet that actually works. Here are some diet tips for women. Carbohydrates should not be completely eliminated from the diet. Rather choose carbohydrates that will aid your body to remain fit. Instead of donuts and other fattening junk snacks, choose oatmeal for your breakfast. Enjoy eggs, whole grain oatmeal, yogurt and fruit juice in the morning. Turkey sandwich on wheat bread, salad with beans, vegetables and low fat cheese, light soup, lean meat, brown rice can be included in lunch and dinner. Nuts and fruits with peanut butter or cheese, salad or a low carb snack bar can be enjoyed as morning and evening snack. Try to eat as much as whole and unrefined carbohydrates as possible. Avoid eating white pasta, white bread or white rice.

Very low intake of carbs may cause nausea, headaches and loss of sleep, but a properly planned diet that is low in carbs helps lower the level of harmful cholesterol, stabilizes blood sugar and blood pressure levels, improves blood lipid profile and promotes sustainable weight loss. The diet is helpful for diabetic people as well. If you wish to live a healthier life, you should choose a low carb diet plan that works well for you.