Diets which have been squarely criticized are the high protein diet plans popularly used by majority of Americans such as the Atkins and the Stillman diets, the Zone and Protein Power diets and also the Sugar Buster diet.
Almost all of these diets completely restrict the intake of carbohydrates and sugar while substantially increasing the intake of protein and fat.

They believe that the introduction of excess protein in the body with no sugar to digest it compels the body to use its fat reserves.
But in the process nutritional fruits and vegetables are also restricted which are very important sources of vitamins .

The dramatic weight loss caused by these diets is because of the body’s usage of glycogen in the absence of carbs and sugar. But glycogen is a major source of water retention in the body. As a result low carb diets inevitably cause the repletion of bodily fluids.

A condition called ketosis which is marked by a loss of appetite and nausea which is caused due to the presence of substances called ketones in the blood stream; is directly related to the high intake of protein.
Meats and chicken which form a crucial part of low carb diets are not only high in protein but also saturated fat.

Excess intake of saturated fat is a major cause of health concerns such as heart conditions and strokes. The high intake of protein also causes kidney problems with the excess secretion of creatinine. It is also responsible for diabetes, liver and bone problems.
According to research conducted by the American Heart Association, the ideal amount of fat consumption is as follows
From Fat- less than 35% of the total daily calorie intake
Saturated Fat- About 7% of the total daily calorie intake
Trans Fat- below 1% of the total daily calorie intake

When on a low carb diet the intake of fat is a lot more than mentioned above because of the inclusion of foods containing high amounts of saturated fat. Also without the consumption of carbohydrates these fats are not digested completely.
Since most low carb diets do not allow the consumption of vegetables and fruits rich in fiber the body doesn’t get its daily requirement of essential mineral such as calcium found in fruits, potassium found in many vegetables and magnesium.

However since the intake of salt stays constant there is an increase in the amount of sodium in the body. This may lead to an increase in blood pressure.

The right way for C is to follow a healthy well balanced diet without overeating or consuming too much of one type of nutrient. Limit the intake of sugar in the form deserts and colas, fat from fried foods and starch from potatoes etc. Couple this with daily exercise and very soon you will find yourself a few pounds lighter without any side effects.

Low Carb diets are defined as the diets which help in the underline sources of proteins and fat and determine the amount of carbohydrates like starchy vegetables, rice, bread, grains and fruits. There are various types of Low Carb diets differing only in types and quantity of carbohydrates. Atkins diet, protein power and zone diet are examples of Low Carb diets.

The purpose of Low Carb diet is to reduce weight. The quantity and types of food in this type of diet attracts people to follow this. The person who requires a weight reduction follows this diet.

DETAILS OF THIS DIET:

The blood sugar level is increased due carbohydrates which in turn increases the level of insulin in our body. The insulin rides the blood sugar into the cells which in turn stop the breakdown of fat in the body. This causes increase in amount of fat in body and causes weight gain. The aim of the Low Carb diet is to reduce weight which can be done by reduction of carbohydrates which is followed in this type of diet.

Thus body breakdowns the excess fat to provide required energy. The blood sugar level is not related to weight reduction in any way. This type of diet includes meat, egg, poultry, dairy products and non starchy vegetables in the place of fruits (in many diets), whole grains, breads, sweets, pastas and starchy vegetables.

RESULTS:

The amount of weight loss observed in following Low Carb diet is high when compared to other diets like Low calorie diet and Low fat diet. The Low Carb diet must be followed even after good weight loss or else the aim of the diet can’t be achieved. Lowering of blood cholesterol levels can be achieved by following this diet. Highly fat saturated foods must be avoided so that this diet functions properly to have maximum benefits.

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO WEIGHT LOSS:

WATER WEIGHT LOSS: Burning of glycogen is caused due to decrease in amount of carbohydrates. This in turn causes release of water in the form of urine and causes weight loss.

APPETITE LOSS: Low Carb diet results in appetite loss but there is no clear evidence for it.

FEELING OF FULLNESS: Due to the large amount of fat and protein present in it, the time taken for digestion is comparatively high. Low Carb diets thus gives feeling of fullness.

REDUCED CALORIES: Due to the absence of calorie booster carbohydrates like Starchy vegetables, grains and breads there is reduced amount of calories. Intake of carbohydrates is main cause of increase of calories.

Following this diet for long period is not so simple. It is proved that the amount of people dropping this diet was very similar to other diets like Low fat diets and Low calorie diets. This shows that there are many problems in following it but once followed it has many advantages.

DISADVANTAGES:

Long time health effects of Low-Carb diets are not known. No experiments have been done for observing this diet on a long time basis because it may cause problems like heart disease and kidney failure later.