Sugary foods are restricted in low-carb diets.
Diets that emphasize eating mostly meat and vegetables are often referred to as low-carbohydrate, or low-carb, diets. The Mayo Clinic says low-carb diets suggest that limiting carb intake allows stored fat to be used as energy instead of the insulin created by carbohydrates. It is common for a low-carb diet to limit daily carbohydrate intake to between 50 and 150 grams. There are a variety of low-carb diets focusing on meat and vegetables to choose from; it is always wise to discuss any possible changes in your diet or exercise regime with a physician. (Reference 1) Add this to my Recipe Box.
Atkins Diet
In 1963 Dr. Robert Atkins developed a weight loss plan based on the idea of eating smaller, controlled amounts of carbohydrates. According to the Atkins website, Dr. Atkins advised plan participants to eat a combination of the "right" foods along with a limited amount of refined carbohydrates so they would use excess fat for energy. In his research he found this combination led to weight loss as well as other health-related improvements, including lowered risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and inflammation.
Today complete information on the Atkins diet is available through books and the company's website. Current participants may have to pay a membership fee. The website reports Atkins followers are given a complete nutrition education so they understand what foods they should and shouldn't eat and reduce the intake of sugar and other carbohydrates.
People on the Atkins diet are asked to count their carbohydrate intake daily and stick to an approved food listing. There are multiple phases of the diet designed to promote weight loss. The Atkins diet suggests women using the plan stick to a range of 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day and men on the plan eat between 1,800 and 2,000 calories a day. It also encourages participants to include exercise in their weight-loss plan. (Reference 2)
Neanderthin
The Neanderthin diet wants you to eat like a caveman. On its website, the company writes Neanderthin was developed based on what people ate during the Paleolithic era 10,000 or so years ago. The company purports one should eat a natural diet, which means excluding foods that cannot be eaten without using modern technology to prepare them. These foods include potatoes, beans, grains, dairy and refined sugar products. Instead, it suggests one eat large amounts of protein (such as meat, fish and eggs) and lower amounts of carbohydrates.
According to the company's website, the Neanderthin diet helps participants both eliminate and avoid ailments such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis and leads to a healthier, more energetic lifestyle. (Reference 3)
Sugar Busters
The core philosophy of the Sugar Busters diet is the avoidance of foods that contain processed grains and refined sugars. It promotes eating foods in specific combinations to avoid weight gain and using the glycemic index. According to its website, Sugar Busters plan participants should divide their current weight by 2.2 and use the sum to determine the grams of lean protein to eat on a daily basis. The program advocates high fiber vegetables and whole grains-products with white flour are not allowed. The plan calls for limited amounts of fat and dairy, suggests participants drink six to eight glasses of water a day and forbids snacking after dinner. Exercise is encouraged for those using the Sugar Busters eating plan. (Reference 4)
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