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Low Carb Diet Triumphs in Two Year Study
The Dr. Atkins low-carb diet thumps traditional diets in weight loss research. The study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev pitted the low-carb diet against Mediterranean and low-fat diets. Low-carb was declared the winner in helping the most people lose the most weight.
The research produced even bigger news. The low-card diet improved cholesterol levels more than the other diets.
The study lasted for two years, which was much longer than most diet studies. In addition, 85% of the 322 people who began the test stuck with the plan for the entire two years.
Most of the participants in the study were men and both men and women get roughly equal amounts of exercise. The average weight loss for people in the low-carb group was 10.3 pounds at the end of the two year study.
The Mediterranean diet group come in a close second as the average weight loss per person was 10 pounds. The low fat dieters finished in third place with 6.5 pounds of average weight loss.
The low-carb diet provided a big surprise for researchers when it was found that the diet also provided an important reduction in the level of cholesterol. That included an improvement in the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL. HDL is considered the "good" cholesterol.
The diet study was done in a controlled environment in Israel. The participants were employees of an isolated nuclear-research company. There were few sources of food nearby, so the study group took all of their meals in the facility's cafeteria. To maintain control of the study appropriate foods for each diet were identified by colored dots. Participants had their choice of foods marked with the color of their diet plan
The low-fat diet was designed to allow consumption of no more than 30% of calories from fat. In addition it restricted the intake of calories and cholesterol. It controlled that intake by focusing the diet on low-fat grains, vegetables and fruits.
With the Mediterranean style diet the food emphases was on poultry, fish, olive oil and nuts.
The low-carb diet plan limited consumption of carbohydrates, but set no limits for calories or fats. It was suggested that participants in that group choose from vegetarian sources of fat and protein.
Someone with total cholesterol of 200 and an HDL of 50 would have a ratio of 4 to 1. The American Heart Association recommends an optimum ratio of 3.5 to 1. A low ratio reduces the risk of hardening of the arteries. For those on the low-carb diets the ratio declined by 20%, 16 for the Mediterranean diet and 12% for those on the low fat diet.
Research published last year shows a low-carb diet wins again when it comes to blood pressure. It was found that overweight women on the Atkins low-carb plan had slightly better blood pressure and cholesterol readings when compared with women on the Zone diet and Ornish diet.
Yes, anyone who is serious about losing pounds, maintaining good cholesterol and controlling blood pressure, can have high hopes with the Atkins low-carb diet.
Ethan Miller is the low-carb oracle. Discover the surprise benefits of low-carb dieting at his website http://www.lowcarbrescue.com
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Tips For Cooking Low Carb
If you are committed to the low carb way of eating, but also craving some of your old comfort foods you may still be able to satisfy those cravings with a little bit of creative substitution. Some of the foods that you used to know and love, have a low carb alternative available - the taste might be a little bit different but you will soon get used to that and be well on your way to happier and healthier eating!Here's some tips you can use to make your low carb cooking easier and tastier:1.
Healthy Recipes for Low Carb Success
Using healthy low carb recipes are an important part of your diet success, just as it's important to remember to drink enough water helping your body to remove the byproducts of the fat burning process. A healthy recipe provides you with the other essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that you need to feel as good as you look.
Getting Started With A Low Carb Diet Plan
Once you've finally made the decision to lose weight, and you've decided you want to try a low carb diet plan, the hard part is practically over. All you need to do now is simply get started. So let's look at what your first several days of a low carb diet plan might be like.
Low Carb Intelligence vs. Low Carb Stupidity
Remember that movie with Jim Carey, "Dumb and Dumber?" And remember the sequel to that movie, "Dumb and Dumberer?" Well, the low carb mania that is sweeping the globe today has reached a level beyond dumberer..
Glycemic Index
The glycemic index is a table of measurements which tells how quickly food will be converted by the body into blood sugar (blood glucose). If a food is low on the glycemic index, it will take a long time to convert to blood sugar. A food high on the glycemic index quickly becomes glucose.
The Secret of Getting Hundred of Low Carb Recipes for Free
The site www.low-carb-diet-recipes.com is an excellent site to find important information regarding how low carb diets can help in weight management, control diabetes and maintain good health. The site thoroughly explains advantages of a low carb diet, how the diet works, and what problems have caused over 60% of Americans to be obese.
Low Carb Beer: Not So Skinny
Low carb beer and lite beer are two different animals. Both feature lower calories and both are ostensibly for weight loss.
Good Fats and Bad Fats -- Whats The Difference?
As a low carb dieter, your diet is undoubtedly high in fat. And if you've done research on the different types of fats, you probably heard the two big buzz words surrounding fats today--"good fats" and "bad fats.
Sweet Low Carb Foods - How Do They Do That?
If you're a low carb diet enthusiast, you've probably tried some of those tasty low carbohydrate bars, candies or maybe even broke down and baked a loaf of that really easy to make and great tasting low carb banana bread.And after getting your head around the concept of 'net carbs', you may still be wondering what are those sweeteners listed on the labels, such as mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol and others, and how they fit into your Atkins, Protein Power, South Beach or other diets.
How to Weigh In On Low Carb Diets
With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of information, it’s no wonder that confusion reigns when it comes to the value and safety of low-carb diets. It seems like heated debates are raging everywhere!
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