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The Atkins Diet has been gaining in popularity in recent years, and relies primarily on reducing the intake of carbohydrates as a source of energy, eventually forcing the body to burn stored fat (resulting in weight loss).
The diet suggest that there is a threshold for carbohydrates, where as long as you stay below that level, the calories will not turn into fat
Many doctors and nutritionists, however, point out that carbohydrates themselves are often higher in calories, so in effect the weight loss from reducing carbohydrate intake may be simply related to reducing calories, and they also cite a lack of impartial research to back up some of the claims made in the Atkins diet. Research also has shown that some of the foods considered safe by the Atkins diet are in fact very high in cholesterol and saturated fat, so there may be health risks associated with a sustained diet that includes larger amounts of those foods.
The South Beach Diet is based on similar principles as the Atkins Diet, although it is likely better in the long term, as it allows unlimited amounts of many salads and vegetables, and incorporates whole grains, fruits, and more sensible amounts of fats and proteins (such as meat and cheese).
The South Beach Diet also makes more of a distinction between good carbs (such as beans and non-starchy vegetables) and bad carbs (like sugar and flour).
While it is a more realistic diet approach, there is still a disadvantage with the variety of foods that you can eat, for example most fruits (although healthy) are not allowed with the diet in certain phases. There are also some kinds of food where there are no limits put on intake, so it could lead to imbalances with the variety of nutrients your body is taking in.
Weight Watchers is probably the most popular general diet, and it relies on a point system, where you have a certain number of points you can use up every day, with higher fat or calorie foods taking up more points, and healthier foods (such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and seafood) using up less points. This allows you to manage your diet based on a variety of foods, and eat sensibly by avoiding high calorie or high fat foods, and sticking to smaller portion sizes. One disadvantage of the diet is that by being less restrictive, it requires more self-control on the part of the dieter, and more planning to keep the daily point totals in check.
There are also an infinite number of fad diets promising incredible (and largely unrealistic) weight loss, with little effort - ideally, you should try to avoid these diets - recent research has determined that while most fad diets may work in the short term, they are either unhealthy or unsustainable.
For example, when some diets overly restrict consumption of some foods and nutrients while allowing unlimited amounts of others (such as animal protein and fat), this could introduce higher risks for heart disease and other conditions. The best diet is one of moderation, which helps you lose weight, stay healthy, and is sustainable over the long term - the right mix of those elements will be different for every individual, but while there may not be such a thing as a silver bullet for dieting, the effort you put into your diet should pay off in the long term.
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