Pro Low-Carb Diet

Low-carbohydrate dieting is an effective and healthy approach to losing weight. Decreasing the intake of carbohydrates causes the body to burn water-bearing glycogen, which in turn decreases water weight. According to Contemporary Nutrition, "There is less glycogen synthesis involved in low-carbohydrate intake, therefore less water in the body (about 3 grams of water are stored per gram of glycogen)," (Wardlaw & Smith,2006, p. 360). Since Low-carbohydrate intake decreases water weight, the reward of low-carbohydrate dieting is instantly gratified with very rapid weight loss. While low-carbohydrate diets remain controversial, critics of the diets fail to prove that the diets are unhealthy. According to a November 8, 2006 article from CBS News, "Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found no evidence of an association between low-carbohydrate diets and increased cardiovascular risk, even when these diets were high in saturated animal fats. Low-carb eating even seemed to be protective against heart disease when vegetables were the main sources of fat and protein in the diet," (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/08/health/webmd/main2164981.shtml).

References

Wardlaw, G., & Smith, A. (2006). Contemporary Nutrition (6th ed.).

New York: McGraw-Hill.

Boyles,S. (2006, November 8) Low Carb Diet Doesn’t Up Heart Risk. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/08/health/webmd/main2164981.shtml