Fad diets have pretty much been taking the world by storm for quite some time now. Every year a new hoard of fad diets emerge and people are quick to follow them. Two other diets that most people have been wondering about are the low-fat diet and the low-carb diet. And while it has been debated for ages whether low-carb or low-fat is the ideal diet, there still isn't a conclusive answer to the question.
Initially known as the Atkins diet, the low-carb diet suggests that people cut down on the carbohydrates they consume. It says that foods like potatoes and white bread contain carbohydrates that are easily converted into sugar when they enter the bloodstream and can lead to energy swings and hunger pangs. It can even prove to be fatal for people who suffer from diabetes. A recent study suggests that opting for the low-carb diet can actually work.
The study examined how opting for the low-carb diet can affect how the body uses energy. Around 164 participants were surveyed for the study and it was found that those who were on the low-carb diet burned more calories than those on a high-carb diet. However, it didn't talk about the participants losing much weight. Instead, people who opted for a low-carb diet were able to better manage their weight and didn't gain weight as long as they stuck to the diet.
The author of the study also suggested that people on the low-carb diet might find it easier to lose more weight once they've already lost some. And he also said that this approach might work best for people with diabetes. However, the low-carb diet alone might not be able to get people to lose weight.
When the low-fat diet was considered it was found that this diet too was effective since just one gram of fat has twice as many calories as carbs or protein. But then what people end up doing is consuming other fat-free foods that are high in carbs and end up gaining weight anyway. Fats might be harmful to the body but are also necessary in order to help the body absorb essential nutrients and giving a feeling of satiety.
So, ultimately nutritionists are suggesting that rather than opting for either a low-fat or a low-carb diet, people should opt for a more balanced approach. People need to set limits on what they eat and how much they eat as this will help cut down calories while also allowing the person to eat foods of their choice. This way a person will also be able to stick to the diet he's opted for because ultimately, after losing weight one must still need to be able to follow their diet.
Nutritionists are now suggesting that one should follow any fad diet that can help you lose weight fast and then come up with an effective diet plan that can be followed on a long-term basis because it is rather evident that fad diets cannot be opted for as a long-term solution. They also made it pretty clear that people need to add some form of exercise to their routine too. Only following a diet is not enough to get people to lose weight.
