High Fiber, Lo-Carb Diet Lowers Risk of Inflammatory Diseases

Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have published the result of a study showing that a diet rich in slowly digested carbohydrates, such as leafy green vegetables, legumes and other high-fiber foods, significantly reduces markers of inflammation associated with the onset of chronic disease. The work, reported in The Journal of Nutrition, explains that a diet rich in high-fiber foods significantly improves insulin signaling and resistance that promote life-shortening diseases including cancer, cardiovascular, stroke and dementia.

Monitoring the glycemic-load of different foods lowers the risk of blood glucose spikes and also increases a hormone that helps regulate the metabolism of fat and sugar. Health minded individuals will want to ensure they eat between thirty and fifty grams of fiber from a variety of food sources each day to control systemic inflammation and lower disease risk.

Low Glycemic Diet Lowers Inflammatory Blood Marker by Nearly a Quarter

The random controlled study involved eighty healthy men and women selected from the Seattle, WA area. Half were considered to be of normal weight, and the other half were overweight or obese as measured on a standardized BMI scale. Researchers found that among overweight and obese study participants, a low-glycemic-load diet reduced a biomarker of inflammation called C-reactive protein by about 22 percent.

Other studies in the past have suggested a correlation between dietary carbohydrate and sugar consumption as measured by the glycemic index of foods and systemic inflammation. This research is important because the C-reactive protein is associated with an increased risk for many cancers as well as cardiovascular disease.

Lowering Blood Glucose Levels Increases Adiponectin to Guard Against Cancer and Diabetes

Dr. Marian Neuhouser, a member of the Cancer Prevention Program in the Public Health Sciences Division at the Hutchinson Center noted “Lowering inflammatory factors is important for reducing a broad range of health risks. Showing that a low-glycemic-load diet can improve health is important for the millions of Americans who are overweight or obese.”

Neuhouser and her team also found that increasing low glycemic load foods in the participants diet by just five percent resulted in increased blood levels of a protein hormone called adiponectin. The hormone is known to protect against a number of different cancer lines as well as metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hardening of the arteries.

Many health-minded people know the importance of avoiding processed carbohydrates and sugar-laden foods while increasing dietary fiber. Dr. Neuhouser concluded “Whenever possible, choose carbohydrates that are less likely to cause rapid spikes in blood glucose… these types of low-glycemic-load carbs include whole grains; legumes such as kidney beans, soy beans, pinto beans and lentils as well as fruits such as apples, oranges, grapefruit and pears.” This study provides another chapter to the growing body of research that demonstrates the importance of dietary choices to prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes and most chronic illnesses.

Cut Dietary Carbohydrates to Reduce Body Fat and Disease Risk

Many health-conscious individuals understand that the key to optimal health and well-maintained body weight is achieved by adherence to a reduced carbohydrate diet. Extensive scientific evidence now exists to show that elimination of refined carbs, wheat products and sugar help the body to properly regulate abdominal fat stores and significantly lower chronic disease risks to extend lifespan.

The result of a study provided to the Endocrine Society conference in Boston explains that even a modest reduction in carbohydrate-rich foods promotes the loss of deep belly fat and can reduce the risk of developing Type II diabetes, stroke and coronary artery disease.

Low Carbohydrate Diet Lowers Abdominal Fat Stores

The study included 69 overweight but otherwise healthy men and women. Participants were broken into two groups and were fed either a calorie-controlled low-fat (higher carbohydrate) diet or a low-carb (higher fat) diet, each for an eight week period. The diet for the initial eight-week period consisted of a normal weight-maintenance intervention, while the second interval lowered the calories consumed by 1,000 calories per day.

Researchers measured the participants deep abdominal fat at the beginning and end of each dietary phase using computed tomography (CT) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Based on the result of these tests, researchers were able to determine that participants consuming the carbohydrate-restricted diet had 11% less deep abdominal fat than the group eating the standard diet.

Interestingly, researchers found that ethnic diversity plays an important role as white participants lost more belly fat than those of other racial backgrounds. The scientists believe this is due to the higher fat concentrations seen in whites, and they benefit most from the loss of abdominal fat.

Reduced Calorie, Low-Carb Diet Significantly Lowers Chronic Disease Risks

Due to the reduction of calories in the second eight week phase of the study, both groups lost weight. Those following the carb-restricted diet lost 4% more total abdominal fat than the group fed the lower fat, higher carbohydrate diet. Principal study author Dr. Barbara Gower commented on the results, “For individuals willing to go on a weight-loss diet, a modest reduction in carbohydrate-containing foods may help them preferentially lose fat, rather than lean tissue.”

This study provides support for a wealth of other research showing that the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet prescribed by physicians and dieticians over the past several decades is a crucial contributing factor to the overweight and obesity epidemic. This type of diet directly contributes to the proliferation of illnesses including diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Excess visceral body fat dramatically raises the risk of these diseases that are linked to the excessive consumption of carbohydrate rich foods. Participants in the abdominal fat reduction arm of this study consumed 43% of calories from carbohydrates. Carbohydrate food sources included low glycemic offerings such as leafy greens and many types of vegetables and excluded breads, pasta and sweets known to promote overweight, obesity and chronic disease.

Carb Restriction is the Key to Permanent Weight Loss and Health

(Article first published as Cut Carbs, Not Fat to Lose Weight and Live Longer on Technorati.)

We’re having trouble changing our mindset about the best type of diet to promote health and weight loss. For decades we have been told that fat is bad and whole grain carbohydrates are good. Food manufacturers cleverly cut all the fat from many of their offerings and pumped up sugar and carbs to compensate. We merrily went along eating massive quantities of `healthy` low fat foods with the thought that we would avoid fat, get skinny and avoid the number one killer, heart disease.

Unfortunately just the opposite has happened. American obesity rates are at epidemic proportions and heart disease still unnecessarily claims the lives of millions each year. Fortunately it’s not too late to make changes that can save your life and help you to lose weight permanently.

Fat is Not the Problem

Current dietary advice from the USDA food pyramid promotes the idea that the bulk of our daily calories should come from carbohydrates. Fat is to be used sparingly and there is no differentiation between different fat sources. Information provided by medical researchers and published in the Los Angeles Times explains that we have been misled over the years and that fat is actually a vital component to cellular structure. Carbohydrates and sugars are the real culprit that influence how body fat is stored and can wreak havoc with normal metabolic activity.

Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health explains "If Americans could eliminate sugary beverages, potatoes, white bread, pasta, white rice and sugary snacks, we would wipe out almost all the problems we have with weight and diabetes and other metabolic diseases." Refined and processed carbs have become the core of our diet. Eventually, carb overload leads to insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease and has a major impact on our ability to lose weight.

Carb Warfare: The Battle of the Bulge

Over time, our body becomes tired from processing large amounts of carbohydrates. The pancreas exhausts its natural ability to secrete insulin and counter the massive amount of sugar that is continually dumped into the bloodstream. The body preferentially burns carbohydrates for energy, and stores the remaining calories as fat. When given the opportunity, our body prefers to burn fat, but there must be an absence of carbs for this to happen.

The typical American diet provides a never ending flow of carbs and corresponding blood sugar spikes. We like to snack regularly between meals, so there is rarely an absence of carbohydrates. Our body is never able to tap into our fat stores because we continually provide a ready source of energy in the form of high carb consumption. The only way to trigger fat metabolism is to drastically limit our carb intake.

Cut the Carbs for Weight Loss Success and Health

Humans have not evolved with the ability to consume and metabolize huge quantities of carbohydrates. The typical American diet is 60% carbohydrate and the direct cause of the obesity calamity, as well as a significant trigger for many inflammatory diseases.

Drop carb intake to no more than 20% of calories and substitute healthy monounsaturated uncooked fats and protein sources with each meal. Fats and proteins are more difficult for the body to break down and slow the release of glucose from carbohydrates. Try drastically lowering your carb intake for 2 weeks and you’ll be on the road to successful weight loss and improved health.

Carbs Linked to Weight Gain and Shortened Life

(Article first published as Cut Carbs from Diet to Aid Weight Loss and Extend Life on Technorati.)

If you knew that the key to successful weight loss and adding extra years to your life was a matter of making simple changes to your diet, would you want to know more details? There is no doubt that the type of foods we eat every day affect the way our body burns or stores calories, and new research indicates that carbohydrates may be critical to the development of disease and how long we live.

Scientists have discovered that the human body can sustain 120 healthy years before our cellular matrix simply wears out and we die. Yet the average life span is only 80 to 85 years. And for many the last decade of life is far from pleasant, as declining health, excess body weight and disease devastate the lives of so many productive people. Learn how you can control the genes that promote longevity and lose weight naturally.

Study Finds Insulin Dysfunction Triggers Most Lethal Diseases and Obesity

The results of a study conducted at the University of California show that insulin is a major accelerant of the aging process and is the main reason that obesity and diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and dementia are so prevalent today. Insulin is released primarily as a response to excess blood sugar and consuming excess carbohydrates.

After a large meal of breads, pasta and sugary treats, large amounts of insulin are needed to mop up the massive amount of glucose in the blood. After years and even decades of carb overload, insulin becomes resistant and unable to perform effectively, allowing high levels of sugar to remain in the blood. Sugar is known to feed cancer cells, and damages the inner lining of the arterial walls increasing risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Carbohydrates Affect Genes That Control Lifespan

Research from this study demonstrates that carbohydrate consumption directly affects two key genes that govern longevity and youthfulness. Aging has always been viewed as a natural process that is inevitable and to be accepted as part of getting older. We now understand that our genetics determine how quickly we age, and that carbs influence the action of those genes responsible for regulating key metabolic processes that promote disease.

Processed Carb Diet Leads to Obesity

For decades the medical profession has promoted the low fat diet as a preventive measure for heart disease and lower weight. A low fat diet means high carb consumption, and the statistics show that heart disease and obesity have both soared since the conception of the low fat mantra. Researchers have demonstrated that fat is essential to health, and processed carbs cause metabolic alterations that promote fat storage. The best way to lose weight is to adopt a moderate fat diet (no hydrogenated or trans fats) and eliminate all processed and refined carbs.

This study provides another example of how our junk food diet of fast and convenience foods is damaging the health of our nation and is behind the obesity epidemic. Excess or resistant insulin are shown to be the primary cause of premature death by promoting lethal chronic disease and contributing to excessive fat storage. Control your insulin by limiting carbs and eating healthy fat sources that help prevent illness and lead to successful weight loss.

Protein Diet Essential to Successful Weight Loss

(Article first published as Protein Balance Found to be Key to Successful Weight Loss Diet on Technorati.)

So, when is a calorie not really a calorie? This is a question that has been asked by weight loss enthusiasts for the past century. As you may have guessed, many people have not yet found the answer as evidenced by the continuing overweight and obesity challenges that plaque millions of Americans.

Medical researchers have been busy working to determine if successful weight loss is merely a matter of caloric balance or if calories from different food sources have a different effect on how our body stores fat. New information now provides evidence that some calories are more demonic than others and can impact your path to permanent weight loss.

Caloric Balance is Essential to Weight Loss Efforts

The results of a Danish study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine compared five different protein and carbohydrate balanced diets on their ability to initiate and maintain weight loss. Study participants initially lost an average of 24 pounds and then were placed on one of five specially prepared diets which varied from low carb/high protein to high carb/low protein.

The results showed that those on the low glycemic, high protein diet were 45% more efficient in maintaining their lost weight. Dr. Thomas Larsen, the co-author of the study theorized that the higher protein content provided a stronger satiety effect while improving blood sugar control. He concluded, "There has been considerable controversy over the role of glycemic index in general, and obesity treatment in particular. This study provides very strong, supportive evidence for the importance of this low-glycemic concept."

Protein Boosts Metabolism, Assists Weight Loss

The Danish study is the latest body of research to demonstrate that a higher protein diet when combined with a dramatically lower consumption of processed and refined carbohydrates is needed to boost metabolic rate and stimulate weight loss. Information published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition provides evidence that health adults should eat three-quarters of their body weight in grams of protein each day.

Critical metabolic changes begin to take place when you increase protein consumption to 30% of calories and decrease or eliminate sugar and refined carbs that drive blood sugar levels out of control. Since protein is much more difficult to break down, your body exerts more energy to metabolize a calorie of protein than the same simple carb calorie. And protein provides essential branched chain amino acids that your body requires as basic cellular building blocks. The answer is clear. All calories are not created equal.

One of the best ways to shift your body into fat burning mode is to begin each day with a good source of protein. This fuels your metabolic engine and limits blood glucose surges that can last all day. Ideal sources of protein include red meat (free range beef, minimally cooked) and cottage cheese, as well as milk, eggs, fish, chicken, legumes, peanuts, cheese, nuts, and seeds. Try increasing the amount of healthy protein in your diet and watch your weight loss goal become reality.

High Sugar Diet Halts Weight Loss Efforts

(Article first published as Study Shows Source of Calories Important to Weight Loss Efforts on Technorati.)

Is it true that a calorie is just a calorie, regardless of whether it comes from a fat, protein or carbohydrate source? A basic physics class will demonstrate that in a laboratory setting, all calories require the same amount of energy to burn regardless of type.

Our body uses a highly evolved energy management system that takes cues from the total number of calories consumed, as well as the calorie source to adjust our metabolic rate and determine fat storage patterns. A successful weight loss plan must include the right balance of nutrients to ensure weight loss success.

All Calories Are Not Created Equal

Our body regulates our genes based on the food we eat. Long standing research has shown that the quantity of foods we consume influences special genes that regulate longevity and the onset of disease. In the same fashion, the type of food we eat affects our metabolism and the effectiveness of insulin to control blood sugar. A diet high in refined carbohydrates that quickly convert to glucose results in insulin resistance and a host of metabolically mediated diseases.

Excess Carb Calories Stored as Fat

In his book Living Low Carb, nutritionist Dr. Jonny Bowden explains the results of a Swedish study where volunteers were given 20 extra calories from candy or peanuts each day for each half pound of body weight. That amounts to an extra 18,200 calories for a 150 pound individual over the course of 2 weeks or slightly over 5 pounds of additional weight from a simple calorie conversion. The group eating high protein peanuts gained a slight amount of weight, but the candy eating subjects packed on 3 times as much weight from the extra sugar calories.

Simple Carbs Raise Blood Sugar, Fuel Fat Storage

Calories from processed carbohydrate foods including candy, bread, pasta and baked goods cause blood sugar levels to surge after every meal. Eventually this leads to insulin resistance as glucose is not efficiently used for energy and remains in the blood. The body responds by converting the sugar into triglycerides or blood fats which are then easily stored in your fat cells.

Eating Protein Increases Base Metabolism

Protein has a much different effect on metabolism than simple carbohydrates. Proteins such as lean meats, nuts, seeds and whey do not stimulate blood sugar and help to maintain ideal insulin levels. Protein calories are converted to energy as long as total calories from all sources are not extreme. The body is much less likely store calories as fat since triglycerides are not formed in excess and insulin remains effective in managing blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that protein consumption increases metabolic rate at rest which burns more calories throughout the day.

Successful weight loss remains out of reach for the vast number of people who begin the journey. Many more people would be able to achieve their goal by eliminating refined carbohydrates and substituting healthy protein choices in addition to calorie restriction. By working to control blood sugar levels, you’ll improve your health and ensure your weight loss success.

Choosing the Best Diet for Health and Weight Loss Goals

(Article first published as Low Carb vs. Low Fat Diet: Your Best Choice for Health and Weight Loss Goals on Technorati.)

The choice between a low fat and low carb diet has been a battle of epic proportions among health conscious individuals for decades. The medical profession has been advocating low fat for cardiovascular health in the belief that fat is bad and excessive carbs promote health. Low carb has been popular since the late Dr. Robert Atkins made a diet of bacon, cheese and meat popular in the 1970’s. Which dietary lifestyle reduces your risk for disease and assists with weight management goals?

Low Carb vs. Low Fat Diet for Weight Loss?

When weight loss is your only goal, do you choose a low fat or low carbohydrate diet? A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concludes that it really makes no difference. The study followed 300 obese participants split between the two dietary patterns and found that both groups lost about 7% of their body weight or roughly 15 pounds over the course of two years. The primary source of calories didn’t count with regard to the final weight loss result. The important element is to determine which diet is better for your health.

Low Fat Diet Promotes Heart Disease

The low fat diet which is regularly touted by medical professionals and pharmaceutical manufacturers is dangerous to your health and is the driving force behind the rampant rise in heart disease. By substituting high carbohydrate foods which are low fat or no fat, dieters set the stage for wild swings in blood sugar and metabolic dysfunction. This ultimately leads to diabetes and heart disease as insulin becomes resistant to continually high blood sugar and the inner lining of the arteries are damaged by high blood pressure, oxidized LDL cholesterol and hormonal imbalance.

Choosing the Right Low Carb Diet for Health: Atkins?

There are primarily two different types of low carbohydrate diet. The first is the Atkins menu plan which initially limits fruits, vegetables and most carbohydrates in favor of a diet full of meat, cheese and processed foods which have been manufactured to reduce sugar and available carbs.

By limiting carbs this diet promotes rapid weight loss initially, but many people report difficulty remaining on the diet and find that weight loss stalls after losing 20 to 25 pounds. Additionally, many people include processed meats with the Atkins program which are known to increase cancer risk due the high level of preservative nitrites.

Best Diet for Weight Loss and Health: Naturally Fresh Vegetables and Greens

The second type of low carb diet centers on fresh vegetables and leafy greens, nuts, seeds, lean meats and monounsaturated fats. Research confirms that eating a low carb diet that eliminates all sugar and processed carbs is not only best for weight loss, but also promotes overall health. A low carb lifestyle prevents excess sugar from remaining in the blood after each meal and reduces levels of dangerous triglycerides that convert to fat reserves.

The low fat vs. low carb debate will likely continue as people try to make the right choice for their health and weight loss goals. Both have been shown effective in promoting weight loss, but evidence abounds that the low fat approach is dangerous to health and should be avoided. Low carb alternatives are the best strategy but the Atkins approach may not promote health, depending on how it is followed. A diet filled with fresh vegetables in their natural form is best for optimal health and weight loss success.

Low Carb Plant Diet Assists Weight Loss, Improves Health

(Article first published as Low Carb Veggie-Based Diet Assists Weight Loss, Improves Health on Technorati.)

All low carb diets are not created equal. Many people understand the importance of losing weight to improve health markers and lower risk from heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer, but the type of diet they choose is just as important as the weight loss itself. There’s no shortage of diet plans and pills which promise to trim excess pounds quickly and efficiently. But at what cost to your health?

Low Carb, Animal Protein Diet Increases Disease Risk

One of the most popular diet programs over the past quarter century is the Atkins plan, which severely limits vegetables and fruits in favor of plenty of beef, processed meats and dairy. Initially people lose weight because of the drastically limited carbohydrates, but in the long run most people find the diet difficult to maintain for a lifetime.

Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that a low carb diet high in animal protein and low in fresh vegetables contributes to increased risk for cancer and death, though they didn’t specifically name any particular plans. Further, the study indicated that eating a vegetable based low carb diet had just the opposite effect, lowering the risk for heart disease and death rate. Whether your goal is weight loss or improved health, making the switch to a veggie based diet will have a profound effect on longevity.

Kicking the Sugar Habit

Regardless of which low carb variant diet you choose, vegetable or animal based, sugar and refined carbohydrates are minimized or eliminated which is an important benefit of both plans. Sugar wreaks havoc in the body, disrupting metabolism and causing insulin resistance and blood sugar spikes. Additional damage results when the sticky sugar molecules bind with proteins, causing them to become non-functional.

The low carb way of life is important to your health and assists weight loss by keeping metabolic markers in check, allowing stored fat to be converted for use as energy. The problem arises when large quantities of calories from animal and processed meat sources are added to the diet. Excess protein is very difficult for the body to break down and results in large quantities of waste which begins to accumulate within the cells.

Go With a Low Carb Vegetable Based Diet

The best diet for both weight loss and reduction of heart disease risk is a low carb, vegetable based plan that includes copious amounts of fresh greens and veggies, nuts, seeds, omega-3 fats and limited protein from white meats. Some meat is necessary in the diet, and turkey and chicken show no correlation with increased risk of disease.

Man has evolved to eat vegetables of all types, as well as some meat. The problem is that our evolutionary meat source has not been corn fed and confined to a stall, but rather the free range variety allowed to graze on natural grass and grains. Modern meats provide an insult to our metabolism, and along with nitrite impregnated processed meats rapidly lead to the development of heart disease and certain cancers.

Choosing the correct type of low carb diet to follow will have a significant impact on your overall health, and ability to achieve your weight loss goal. While a diet high in animal protein and low in carbs may initially assist weight loss, long term it’s been shown to increase mortality from all causes. Follow a plant based low carb diet to naturally reach your weight loss goal and benefit from sustained health and longevity.

Best Tips to Lose Weight and Prevent Obesity

(Article first published as Obesity Rates on the Rise on Technorati.)

Obesity rates continue to grow at a staggering pace, with dire implications to both individual health and our struggling health care system. Over 2 million people moved from overweight to obese status, based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) scale, a standardized measurement of body weight. Obesity has been implicated in a host of diseases ranging from heart disease and stroke to diabetes and cancer.

Stress and the Economy Blamed for Rising Obesity
According to a report published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the annual cost of obesity is $1,429 higher than that of their normal weight counterparts. The report concludes that the continued rise in obesity rates are due to the poor economy and high unemployment leading to increased levels of life stress situations.

Both stress and economic factors play a part in weight gain, as people look for inexpensive food choices which always tend to be high in trans fats, sugar and calories. Stress is one of the independent factors leading to weight gain which can be controlled. Excess stress leads to psychological eating, where food is used as a crutch to cover up the root cause of the problem. While the economy may not be within our control, the report suggests important tips to avoid becoming an obesity statistic.

Tip 1: Incorporate Physical Activity into Your Healthy Lifestyle
Most people simply don’t get enough physical activity to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, or to effectively promote weight loss. Experts advise that people exercise at a moderate pace for 20 to 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.

This is enough to significantly reduce disease risk, but even more intense exercise is needed to fuel weight loss. Avoid excessive exercising to lose weight, as your body will send the signal to eat more in an effort to compensate for calories burned.

Tip 2: Increase Fruits and Vegetables, Lower High Calorie Food and Drink

Balancing food groups and slowly making healthy food substitutions are proven to deliver weight loss results. Poor economic times are a recipe for dietary disaster, as people trend toward inexpensive fast and processed foods to save money, and ruin their health.

While fresh fruits and vegetables are more costly than refined foods, one tip is to find a local farmer’s market and look for produce which is locally grown, and less expensive. Fill up on fiber rich leafy greens and other vegetables which are in season, and during winter months, fresh frozen vegetables make for a healthy, inexpensive compliment to your meal.

Tip 3: Reduce Life’s Stressors
Stress is a hidden, yet mostly controllable cause of weight loss and health decline. Experts agree that continual stress from losing a job or serious financial concerns have the same health impact as smoking a pack of cigarettes each day.

Stress causes alterations in brain chemistry and systemic inflammation, leading to extra pounds around the waist. Sometimes stress is unavoidable, but it’s important to identify and correct the cause of the stress as quickly as possible. Many people find meditation and yoga work well to provide a calm feeling which can be enough to tip the weight loss scales in your favor.

The number of overweight and obese individuals continues to grow at an alarming rate, and many of these people are unaware of the dire health consequences they face from the added weight. Moderate exercise, healthy diet and food substitution as well as stress reduction are all positive tools which lead to healthy weight loss and reversal of the obesity trend.

Fiber and Good Carbs Assist Weight Loss

(Article first published as Good Carbs, Bad Carbs: Using Fiber to Drive Weight Loss on Technorati.)

Most people are familiar with the popular diet plans which millions follow in a desperate attempt to lose weight and improve health. Low carb diets have garnished much attention over the past 40 years as scores of people have quickly dropped weight following the program made popular by Dr. Robert Atkins. The Atkins plan has not been without controversy due to the inclusion of processed meats, high fat dairy and the initial exclusion of fresh vegetables.

Fad Carb Diets Don’t Work Long Term

While initial results of people following the Atkins program are impressive, most are unable to attain or maintain their target weight. For many, sustainable and healthy weight loss is only possible by following a high fiber diet which encourages plenty of leafy greens, proper balance of healthy fats and a high fiber intake which requires more energy for the body to break down.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition distinguishes carbohydrates based on their glycemic index, a measure of how quickly they convert to glucose in the blood. Glucose is released slowly in carbs which are high in fiber, blunting the typical blood sugar spike. These foods are associated with a lowered risk from many metabolic disorders, and may help prevent diabetes from progressing to an advanced form of the disease.

All Carbs Are Not Created Equal
Raw vegetables and cake both contain carbohydrates, yet most people would identify the dessert as an unhealthy carb choice. The key difference is in the way they release glucose to the bloodstream. The sugars in vegetables are closely bound with fiber, and are difficult for the body to break down quickly, while the cake immediately turns to sugar beginning in the mouth. Carbohydrates are essential to good health, but making the proper choices will lead to reduced disease risk and natural weight loss.

Making the Good Carb Choices

Carbs come in all different forms, and selecting wisely by choosing high fiber foods will assist in establishing your weight loss goal. Fiber can’t be digested by the body, and doesn’t have a caloric impact on fat metabolism and storage. Learn to read nutrition labels to determine the fiber content of foods.

You’ll quickly learn that the core of your diet should be from fresh leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds balanced with lesser amounts of meats and unprocessed fats. Work up to 40 to 50 grams of fiber each day, and watch your weight loss progress naturally.

Eliminate the Evil Carbs
Sugar added from any source is a top reason people gain weight and ruin their health. Sugar, glucose and fructose are all bad carbs which have no nutritional value and no fiber content to offset the impact on blood sugar. All refined grains, baked goods, candies and snacks should be eliminated from your diet. Be wary of the multi-grain marketing scheme, as these products will cause your blood sugar to rise as quickly as their refined counterparts.

Healthy weight loss is an admirable goal, frequently sabotaged by the typical refined junk food diet. It’s critical to incorporate high fiber foods into your diet which will help you feel full and avoid the blood sugar rollercoaster which leads to weight gain and declining health. Monitor your fiber intake, and benefit from lower disease risk and natural weight loss.

Low Fat or Low Carb... Best For Weight Loss and Health?

(Article first published as Best Weight Loss Path: Low Fat or Low Carb? on Technorati.)

The question has challenged dietary science for decades - is low fat or low carb better for weight loss, and which is healthier? Many people are confused about the best way to pursue a healthy weight loss program, and often resort to fad diets, diet pills and weight loss surgery.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine analyzes two groups of weight loss participants, both placed on reduced calorie diets consisting of either low fat or low carbohydrate foods over a period of 2 years. Researchers determined that the type of food consumed is irrelevant to the amount of weight lost, but is much more important to overall health.

Weight Loss Controlled by Calories and Meal Timing, Not Food Type

In this study, people consuming the same amount of calories lost the same amount of weight, regardless of food source. Participants lost 7% of their body weight, or about 15 pounds over the 2 year time frame. The results are not surprising. Weight loss is fueled by many factors, including total calories, amount of physical activity, psychological mindset and the timing of meals.

One important fact that did emerge was that a low carb diet was healthier than the traditional low fat fare. Both groups of dieters benefitted from improved HDL cholesterol levels, with the low carb group achieving a 23% improvement compared with 11% for the low fat dieters. Additionally, blood pressure was reduced in the low carb group.

Traditional Low Fat Diet is Detrimental to Health

Weight loss is critical to the health of three-fourths of the adult population who are either overweight or obese, as it dramatically lowers risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. Equally important is how the weight is lost. Dropping pounds too quickly is dangerous due to the risk of toxic overload as fat cells are purged.

While the source of calories may not be a critical factor in weight loss, reducing carbohydrates has a significant impact on your health. Medical science has supported the low fat mantra for more than a half century based on flawed evidence indicating that fat is the source of cholesterol and causes arterial plaque and heart disease. Research has documented that just the opposite is true.

Cut Carbs for Healthy Weight Loss
Carbohydrates, especially from refined starches, baked goods and any food using wheat as an ingredient, causes dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar and excessive levels of triglycerides (blood fats). Triglycerides that are not cleared from the blood are a factor in the development of coronary plaque, as they’re escorted out of circulation for storage as body fat. Reduce or eliminate junk food carbs and sugars to lower your future risk of heart disease.

There are many factors to consider when making the decision to affect a lifestyle change which will lead to healthy weight loss. Reduced calories from a well balanced diet are essential, as well as regular physical activity and the proper motivational factors. The decision to lose weight is an important first step, but be certain to adopt a low carbohydrate diet which will allow you to achieve your goal with optimal health.