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 7 Reasons Low Carb Diets are Wrong    
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Charles Remington

 

7 Reasons Low Carb Diets are Wrong

Low carbohydrate diets provide initial weight loss, but at the high cost of losing muscle and reducing metabolism. They are inadequate sources of fuel to support exercise activity, which is vital in maintaining good health…

By Charles Remington
The human body is designed to run best on a certain type and balance of fuel. Unfortunately the latest low-carbohydrate fad diets are not fuel that the human body was designed to run on. Low - carbohydrate diets can cause several health concerns over time. Here are the top seven.

1. Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when excessive uric acid levels, start to crystalize in joints, leading to pain and inflamation. Uric acid is a waste product in the liver's metabolism of protein. Excessive amounts of protein may lead to an inability of elimination of uric acid. The FAT LOSS COACH recommends you should not to exceed 1-1.25 grams of protein per lean pound of body weight.

2. Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard masses that form in the kidneys when uric acid or calcium oxalate crystalizes and over time form stones. Insoluble fiber found only in carbohydrates reduces the absorption of calcium, which cause urinary calcium levels to drop resulting in prevention of kidney stone's formation. The FAT LOSS COACH program recommends the consumption of 30 or more grams of fiber daily. This is not attainable on low - carbohydrate diets.

3. Constipation and Poor Intestinal Health

To maintain good intestinal health our bodies require thirty or more grams of fiber daily. Fiber is divided into two types soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber is vital in formation of stools and decreases the time process of waste elimination. Low carbohydrate diets are too low in insoluble fiber and increase risk of constipation. Poor transit time of waste material increases risk of certain colon cancers.

Insoluble fibers prevent the buildup of mucus on intestinal walls which lead to poor absorption of nutrients into the body. Low carbohydrate diets are inadequate to maintain good intestinal wall health. The FAT LOSS COACH program uses whole grains, oats, beans, fruits and vegetable which are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. This lowers the risk for constipation, irritable bowel, diverticulitis, crohn's disease, hemorrhoids and colon cancers.

4. Rise in Cholesterol Levels increase Risk Heart Disease

Risk of heart disease increases on a low carbohydrate, low fiber diets. These diets promote excessive amounts of animal protein, cholesterol and saturated fat. Exuberant amounts of protein increase homocysteine, which is a bi product of the amino acid methionine. Many experts believe that high homocysteine levels have many toxic effects which lead to increase risk of heart disease and hardening of arteries. Low carbohydrate, low fiber diets reduce the absorption and elimination of digestive bile in the intestines. Digestive bile is produced in the liver from cholesterol.

A decrease in digestive bile production raises blood serum cholesterol levels which increases risk of heart disease. Unlike low carbohydrate diets the FAT LOSS COACH promotes nutritional balance providing 30% protein, 50% high fiber carbohydrates, 20% fat.

5. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the reduction of bone density, due to the loss of calcium over long periods of time. Several dietary factors increase the risk of osteoporosis. When dietary protein reaches excessive levels, so does the loss of calcium in the urine. Most studies show that a life - long high protein diet results in an increase of osteoporosis. Poor intestinal health due to low fiber diets cause inadequate absorption of calcium in intestines contributing to poor bone formation. This would suggest that all low carbohydrate diets cannot become a life long lifestyle of eating.

This is only one of many reasons why low carbohydrate diets provide poor Long Term Weight Control. Interestingly, a diet too low in protein can also increase risk of osteoporosis. There is no one size fits all when managing our weight. All FAT LOSS COACH programs are customized to the individual providing the right balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat.

6. Loss of Muscle and Reduction of Metabolism

Any diet that applies the restriction of calories less than the body's daily requirements over long periods of time will result in the loss of lean muscle tissue and a decrease in the metabolism. All low carbohydrate diets are focused solely on weight loss. The loss of fat comes at a high cost, which is the loss of lean muscle.

The loss of muscle reduces the resting metabolic rate, which is the major cause for rebound weight gain. Research shows 95% of all dieters' will regain that weight back. WE DON'T FAIL AT DIET'S - DIET'S FAIL US! The FAT LOSS COACH is a nutritional breakthrough because of it's three day eating cycle, called the GLYCO - CYCLE. The secret is we don't try to lose fat every day. That would result in losing muscle and reducing metabolism. ( Go to FAT LOSS COACH story to learn how the Glyco - Cycle was discovered ).

7. Poor Exercise Performance and Recovery

Carbohydrates are the primary fuel for your muscles and brain. Eating a low carbohydrate diet prevent proper maintenance of muscle and liver glycogen ( storage form of carbohydrate and water ), decreasing muscle performance and increasing muscle fatigue. ATP is the main source of energy for all muscle contraction.

When a muscle is used, a chemical reaction breaks down ATP to produce energy. There is only enough ATP stored in the muscle for a few contractions. More ATP is needed. There are three enzyme systems that can create more ATP. The three sources of ATP for muscle contraction are carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acid proteins. Carbohydrates metabolize efficiently and are therefore used first. If carbohydrates are not available, your muscles metabolize fatty acids and amino acids as secondary sources of ATP.

These secondary sources are not efficient, which consequently cause your strength and endurance to drop drastically. The FAT LOSS COACH is customized to your amount of muscle and exercise schedule. It provides 50% of your calories from high fiber, low glycemic ( turn into blood sugar slowly ) carbohydrates which are metabolized into muscle energy best. This will lead to increases in strength and muscle endurance.

Final Thoughts

Long term success managing weight starts with the right approach. If you are overweight, the real problem is that you have too much body fat for how much muscle you possess. A body composition solution is needed, not just a weight loss diet. Your goal should be to lose fat without losing muscle or sacrificing your health in the process.

To maintain your results your eating habits must develop life long character. Low carbohydrate diets provide initial weight loss, but at the high cost of losing muscle and reducing metabolism. They are inadequate sources of fuel to support exercise activity, which is vital in maintaining good health. The risks to your health long term makes low carbohydrate diet's poor solutions for life long weight management.

About Charles Remington

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Reviews Write A Review
by Jason Merrell
Fitcom? More like FICTION.
Credible studies disagree with you 180 degrees. The low-fat, high carb, low protein way has given us the most obese population on the planet. Protein Power Lifeplan. Look it up.
by Cris
Inaccurate
Aside from the fact that you do not cite a source for any of your information, you also make illogical claims. First of all, there are plenty of people who eat low-carb for health benefits, not weight loss. I weigh in at just over 100 lbs., and I consume over 2000 calories a day, with well under 100 grams of carbs, all from vegetable/fruit sources. I have never had a weight problem, before or after going low-carb. Also, it is a highly sustainable diet because it is delicious and filling. It requires good whole foods and decent cooking skills, but beyond that, it's pretty easy to pull off. I especially like it because I'm no longer hungry every hour. My speedy metabolism used to blow right through grain-based meals, but the fat and protein keep me going much longer. Like 2 or 3 hours :) Also, weight-bearing exercises show significant impact in the prevention of osteoporosis, indicating that calcium alone won't cut it. What do you have to say for the multiple populations throughout the world who consume well under our rates of calcium but still have fewer bone density issues? And as for digestion issues, healthy gut flora is more important than fibe. It's far more effective to have foods broken down by beneficial bacteria so that their nutrients can be used by the body than it is to simply flush the system out, good and bad, with excessive fiber.
by Karen
Crapola!
Where the heck did you do your research? This is garbage.
by Dave
Use your brain
"Everybody says so" is not a reason to believe anything. What you've discussed above is largely a collection of nutritional old-wives' tales. Individuals such as yourself spend a lot of time telling each other what is "right" without ever bother to learn actual and complete scientific evidence. If you're going to speak as an expert, you should really be an expert, which means understanding the interactions of nutrition and metabolism at a level deeper than gym-rat gossip. How about stepping up with a response? Perhaps you'd care to take place in a debate on this topic?
by Dan
Terrible Article
I would love to see some sources for this terrible article.
by Shaun
No really, the world is flat...
The first low carb diet was document, in Scientific form in 1880. There have been dozens and dozens of research studies regarding the effectiveness and safety of controlling carbs yet you fail to show at least one scientific study to back up your hearsay claims. Its unfortunate that with all the information available, at your finger tips, here on the net, you still spew the 1987 fat free, carb laden propaganda. Then again, this is fitcommerce, commerce obiviously being the focus. Gota $ell $ell $ell, right? I call it a $ell out.
by wifezilla
Myth regurgitation
Sorry to see so much false information being presented as fact. I suggest the author get a copy of "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes to find out the source of this bad information before he does more harm.
by Pat
I love my low carb diet
I just love my low carb diet! Not only does it suit my lifestyle but also my pocket. Not once did I cook two separate meals and not once did I feel any fatigue. Best of all, I had a weight loss of 57 kg while on this diet. When on a low carb diet it does not mean that you don’t eat carbs at all. Learn to eat correctly. I have learned that what I eat I must eat correctly as in plenty of green vegetables (two cups of salad plus one cup of other green vegetables), strawberries (5 a day) in the place of bananas, cream instead of milk when I drink my tea. Furthermore I have learned; Not to skip meals but rather increase them to 5 or 6 smaller meals To eat to suit my appetite and nibble on a protein snack if I feel hungry in between meals Not to eat more than 20 grams of carbs a day when I started my diet. This I repeated every fourth week To find my carb level for losing. As long as you continue loosing you can up your carb level. Start by adding 5 grams for the week. If you have still experience weight loss at the end of the week add another 5 grams for the following week until you have find your carb level for losing That the greater my level of exercise is the higher the amount of my daily carb intake will be. Thus it pays to exercise while on a low carb diet That I have toned while on a weight loss programme as a result of the protein that I consumed To drink a lot of water (2l per day) Remember one thing, we are all different. What works for me might not work for you. Find what works for you. Happy low carb eating!
by Pat
I love my low carb diet
I just love my low carb diet! Not only does it suit my lifestyle but also my pocket. Not once did I cook two separate meals and not once did I feel any fatigue. Best of all, I had a weight loss of 57 kg while on this diet. When on a low carb diet it does not mean that you don’t eat carbs at all. Learn to eat correctly. I have learned that what I eat I must eat correctly as in plenty of green vegetables (two cups of salad plus one cup of other green vegetables), strawberries (5 a day) in the place of bananas, cream instead of milk when I drink my tea. Furthermore I have learned; Not to skip meals but rather increase them to 5 or 6 smaller meals. To eat to suit my appetite and nibble on a protein snack if I feel hungry in between meals. Not to eat more than 20 grams of carbs a day when I started my diet. This I repeated every fourth week. To find my carb level for losing. As long as you continue loosing you can up your carb level. Start by adding 5 grams for the week. If you have still experience weight loss at the end of the week add another 5 grams for the following week until you have find your carb level for losing. That the greater my level of exercise is the higher the amount of my daily carb intake will be. Thus it pays to exercise while on a low carb diet. That I have toned while on a weight loss programme as a result of the protein that I consumed. To drink a lot of water (2l per day). Remember one thing, we are all different. What works for me might not work for you. Find what works for you. Happy low carb eating!
by Pat
I love my low carb diet
I just love my low carb diet! Not only does it suit my lifestyle but also my pocket. Not once did I cook two separate meals and not once did I feel any fatigue. Best of all, I had a weight loss of 57 kg while on this diet. When on a low carb diet it does not mean that you don’t eat carbs at all. Learn to eat correctly. I have learned that what I eat I must eat correctly as in plenty of green vegetables (two cups of salad plus one cup of other green vegetables), strawberries (5 a day) in the place of bananas, cream instead of milk when I drink my tea. Furthermore I have learned; Not to skip meals but rather increase them to 5 or 6 smaller meals To eat to suit my appetite and nibble on a protein snack if I feel hungry in between meals Not to eat more than 20 grams of carbs a day when I started my diet. This I repeated every fourth week To find my carb level for losing. As long as you continue loosing you can up your carb level. Start by adding 5 grams for the week. If you have still experience weight loss at the end of the week add another 5 grams for the following week until you have find your carb level for losing That the greater my level of exercise is the higher the amount of my daily carb intake will be. Thus it pays to exercise while on a low carb diet That I have toned while on a weight loss programme as a result of the protein that I consumed To drink a lot of water (2l per day) Remember one thing, we are all different. What works for me might not work for you. Find what works for you. Happy low carb eating!
by Pat
I love my low carb diet
I just love my low carb diet! Not only does it suit my lifestyle but also my pocket. Not once did I cook two separate meals and not once did I feel any fatigue. Best of all, I had a weight loss of 57 kg while on this diet. When on a low carb diet it does not mean that you don’t eat carbs at all. Learn to eat correctly. I have learned that what I eat I must eat correctly as in plenty of green vegetables (two cups of salad plus one cup of other green vegetables), strawberries (5 a day) in the place of bananas, cream instead of milk when I drink my tea. Furthermore I have learned; Not to skip meals but rather increase them to 5 or 6 smaller meals To eat to suit my appetite and nibble on a protein snack if I feel hungry in between meals Not to eat more than 20 grams of carbs a day when I started my diet. This I repeated every fourth week To find my carb level for losing. As long as you continue loosing you can up your carb level. Start by adding 5 grams for the week. If you have still experience weight loss at the end of the week add another 5 grams for the following week until you have find your carb level for losing That the greater my level of exercise is the higher the amount of my daily carb intake will be. Thus it pays to exercise while on a low carb diet That I have toned while on a weight loss programme as a result of the protein that I consumed To drink a lot of water (2l per day) Remember one thing, we are all different. What works for me might not work for you. Find what works for you. Happy low carb eating! www.howucandoit2.com
by Pat
I love my low carb diet
I just love my low carb diet! Not only does it suit my lifestyle but also my pocket. Not once did I cook two separate meals and not once did I feel any fatigue. Best of all, I had a weight loss of 57 kg while on this diet. When on a low carb diet it does not mean that you don’t eat carbs at all. Learn to eat correctly. I have learned that what I eat I must eat correctly as in plenty of green vegetables (two cups of salad plus one cup of other green vegetables), strawberries (5 a day) in the place of bananas, cream instead of milk when I drink my tea. Furthermore I have learned; • Not to skip meals but rather increase them to 5 or 6 smaller meals • To eat to suit my appetite and nibble on a protein snack if I feel hungry in between meals • Not to eat more than 20 grams of carbs a day when I started my diet. This I repeated every fourth week • To find my carb level for losing. As long as you continue loosing you can up your carb level. Start by adding 5 grams for the week. If you have still experience weight loss at the end of the week add another 5 grams for the following week until you have find your carb level for losing • That the greater my level of exercise is the higher the amount of my daily carb intake will be. Thus it pays to exercise while on a low carb diet • That I have toned while on a weight loss programme as a result of the protein that I consumed • To drink a lot of water (2l per day) Remember one thing, we are all different. What works for me might not work for you. Find what works for you. Happy low carb eating! www.howucandoit2.com
by Mary
You Don't Know What Your Talking About
My husband is a type 2 diabetic. He suffered for over 20 years with this disease until I read Dr. Richard Bernsteins book, "Diabetes Solutions". For the last 6 years my husband (and I) have been on low carb lifestyle. He lost 80 pounds and I've lost 40 and we've kept it off all this time. The horrible neuropathy in both his feet has diminished to the point where he can now walk 2 miles on the track every day - before low carb he could not walk 75 feet! He was on 43 units of insulin a night - before low carb - for the past 5 1/2 years he has taken no insulin. His cholesterol and other blood work come back with outstanding reports. We eat better, more nutritious foods than we ever did before. I could go on and on but suffice to say you really need to get your facts straight before writing false statements-- perhaps you could read a few good books like: Dr. Bernsteins book or better yet, Gary Taubes', "Good Calories, Bad Calories" or Jonny Bowden's "Living the Low Carb Life" . With all due respect sir, you don't know what in the heck you're talking about.
by Mel
If I could give it 0 stars I would
After just six months on a low carb regimen my cholesterol was lowered dramatically, my good to bad ratio was in perfect range for the first time ever, and my triglycerides were in the best shape they'd ever been. (And research has borne this out as well, so it's not just my anecdotal evidence in play here.) My energy levels while maintaining a LC lifestyle are FAR superior to those while eating low fat, something that was noticeable even to those around me. Getting the proper amount of fiber while avoiding high carb intake is not only easy to do (even without fiber supplements it's entirely possible) but I have more fiber in my diet now than on the standard American diet, or even most of the low fat plans out there. After 5 years of maintaining this lifestyle (and it's not a diet to anyone who's serious about it - it's a way of eating responsibly for your health) I have not developed kidney stones or gout. Eating LC does not mean only eating high fat protein, and only the most uninformed even think that. I'm guessing you're among that crowd. If you knew anything about human physiology (though you've amply demonstrated here that you don't), you would know that your body is perfectly capable of existing - and thriving - with very low levels of carbs in your diet. (And getting the fiber needed is terribly simple to do with supplements if no other way.) Human bodies are amazing machines that are able to convert fat to energy - the entire reason people get fat is because our bodies store fat to be used for energy. But our diets have messed up the natural systems and our bodies react by storing more fat than is necessary. (Part of the weight loss involved in LC has to do with the burning off of stored fat to use for energy since the carbs aren't coming in from the food sources.) A low carb way of eating is NOT unhealthy - in fact, humans existed for thousands of years on very low carb diets as the refined sugars, flours and abundant fruits we have now were not available. This is a factually incorrect piece at best and irresponsible writing at worst. Scare tactics to drive people to your own services maybe? I shudder to think that anyone who needs help or nutritional education looks to the "FAT LOSS COACH" for it.
by Gus K
All Wrong
It's really hard to respond to an article like this where almost every point is incorrect. Some of the latest (and compelling) evidence has shown that low carb diets preserve muscle mass, more fat is lost than with any other diet. It has also been shown that most LC dieters lipid levels dramatically improve, especially triglyceride levels. It's self severing, biased and incorrect articles like this one that are ruineding peoples health.

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