Final Verdict on Low Carb Diets?

[chenhongxia]

A recent study found that people who followed a low-carb diet lost more weight than people who ate a low-fat diet.

What's more, they enjoyed lower cholesterol levels to boot. So, was Dr. Atkins right? Should people ditch their fruit for a filet mignon?

"Not so fast," says Pam Ofstein, director of Nutrition Services for eDiets.

"Low carbohydrates shouldn't mean no carbohydrates," she said. "While a low carbohydrate plan can help with weight loss, a lot depends on the types of carbohydrates and the quality of other foods included."

The study, conducted by researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, found that both low-carb and Mediterranean diets were as effective as low-fat diets. Appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the two-year Israeli study is one of the largest and longest of its kind to compare the effectiveness and safety of common weight-loss approaches.

The study followed 322 moderately obese subjects. Participants ate a low-fat, Mediterranean or low-carbohydrate diet. Those following a low-carb approach recorded the greatest weight loss -- averaging 10.3 pounds. Those assigned to the Mediterranean plan came in a close second losing an average of 10 pounds. The low-fat group dropped the least amount with 6.6 pounds. Encouragingly, almost 85 percent of participants actually stuck to their diets.

In addition, the low-carb approach seemed to have the best overall impact on cholesterol, while the Mediterranean approach seemed to be the most effective for controlling blood sugar.

While the results were eye-opening, there are some things to keep in mind, Ofstein said. Carbohydrate foods such as whole grains and fruits are fiber-rich and have a low glycemic impact. Including them daily can help you lose or maintain weight as opposed to eating refined carbohydrates and foods that contain low nutrient density. And of course, exercise is important to any healthy lifestyle.

"As we know with a majority of weight-loss plans, if you follow them and include activity, you can lose weight," she said. "Weight-loss plans can be individual, and what works for one person may not be the best fit for another."

Choosing an approach that works means finding a food strategy that satisfies you and that you can stick to in the long term -- which is the first step toward a lifestyle change that will help you lose weight and live healthier. A trained and accredited nutrition professional can help you match your own preferences with the right diet.

Edited December 2, 2008 by Phi for All
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[hermanntrude]

an important addendum to this is that it's better not to even consider ANY kind of "diet" unless you are ACTUALLY OVERWEIGHT.

 

Too many people think they're fat when they arent and try to lose weight uneccessarily, causing disappointment, depression and dangerous eating disorders.

[YT2095]

indeed, you should never start any type of diet without 1`st getting medical advice, however excersize Freely

[DrP]

an important addendum to this is that it's better not to even consider ANY kind of "diet" unless you are ACTUALLY OVERWEIGHT.

.

 

Definately! Also - Exersise should be the first line attack before diet. You can eat whatever you like if you exersise enough to compensate. Even if you are slightly over weight - excersise is still the most important remedy way before dieting. In fact - If you don't get any excersise - you will probably end up eating more when you start excersising as your body starts to build new muscle tissue..... this can actually lead to an increase in weight, accoumpanied with a more slimline body shape.... which is MUCH better than just loosing body fat.

[npts2020]

Exercise!!!! That sounds like work. Oh well, anything worth achieving is work. Look around, all of the "best" bodies get plenty of exercise regardless of their diet and there is no substitute. Exercise also will help longevity and particularly quality of life in later years. Ernst Mayr after his 100th birthday famously attributed his long life to exercising for at least one hour every day "of course these days thats only walking out to the mailbox and back but I still do an hour of exercise every day".