BODY SYNC KNOWLEDGE BASE

HEALTH + FITNESS: NAVIGATION THE PERILS OF LOW CARB DIETS

first published as the editorial, May 2003 Issue of "The Rubdown"
©2001-2008 Andrew Thompson

WITH winter now well and truly under way, a lot of people are talking about dieting. Everyone’s thinking ahead to the warmer months, and how they’ll look once the layers of jumpers and track pants begin to fall away.

Unfortunately though, diets can be a dangerous thing. I receive far too many referrals for Lymphatic Massage, simply because people aren’t eating properly. And so the time seems right to discuss dieting, and in particular, one of the most dangerous ones around; the low carb diet.

Dangerous? Is that too strong a word? Not really, especially if your only knowledge of carbohydrates (CHOs) is through marketing hype.

Low carb diet literature usually focuses on these three points:
- you will lose weight rapidly,
- you must decrease CHO intake,
- you must increase fats and proteins.

The first fact is true, and directly relates to the second. When the body stores a glycogen molecule (the end result of CHO digestion), it needs three water molecules to store it. Simply put, if you don’t eat CHOs, your body won’t hold as much water. Fantastic, right? No, because you’re not really losing fat, just water.

Now for the first danger; not all CHOs are the same. Simple CHOs are highly processed foods like cakes, soft drink, bread & pasta. They have virtually no nutritional value.

On the other hand, Complex CHOs are vegetables, grains and fruit. They are called complex because they haven’t been processed, therefore the body takes longer to digest them and makes that energy available over a longer period of time.

As well as being the body’s most important source of vitamins and minerals, plant foods are also it’s preferred source of energy. Low carb diets will tell you to limit your intake of ALL CHOs to around 30g per day, but if you do that, you’ll get sick. In short, yes cut out the simple CHOs, but not the complex.

Next danger. If you increase your intake of animal fats and proteins, your cholesterol levels will rise. Also, if you don’t have the fibre and enzymes from plant foods to help process all that meat product, you’ll increase the risk of bowel cancer. Other common side effects of low carb diets are constipation, bad breath, indigestion, and oily sweat. Those symptoms aren’t very attractive, no matter how thin you are.

There is really only one safe path to losing weight and keeping it off: exercise, cut down on junk food, and eat smaller meals. It’s all about changing to a healthier way of living.

Try it for thirty days. You’ll be amazed how quickly the results pay off, or your money back. :)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Bibliography:
Goodwin, Kathy, RD, "The Atkins Diet - A Comprehensive Analysis" 1999
The Atkins Centre Website, FAQ’s: "Myths about Atkins" 2002.

DISCLAIMER: Body Sync has made every effort to ensure this information is accurate. However, we accept no responsibility for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in respect of the information contained in the material provided by Body Sync, nor is the provision of the material by Body Sync to be construed as any representation that there are no other materials or information available in relation to the information provided. Further, Body Sync accepts no responsibility to persons who may rely upon this information for whatever purpose.

Return to the main Knowledge Base Directory