A Breakdown of Low-Carb Diets
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
Some of the most hotly debated diets these days are the myriad versions of the low-carb diet — a plan that first caught on in the 1960s and is still going strong, with several variations.
But all these diets have one principle in common: They limit a person’s intake of the carbohydrates that are found in grains, starchy vegetables, and fruit, while emphasizing foods that are high in protein and fat.
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Here’s a breakdown of four of the most popular low-carb diets and how they affect your body:
Ketogenic (or Keto) Diet. A high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet induces the body to switch from using glucose for energy to breaking down stored fat into an alternative form of energy called ketones. The goal is to reduce the intake of carbs as low as possible — 50 grams at most, but 20 grams to 30 grams is even better. Although it gained popularity as a weight loss diet, the ketogenic diet was originally promulgated as a treatment for epilepsy, and may be helpful in other neurological disorders as well.
Paleolithic (or Paleo) Diet. Like the Keto diet, the Paleo diet is low-carb — but with a twist. People who go “Paleo” focus on unprocessed foods that were common during the Paleolithic era before the agricultural and industrial revolutions. This diet centers on meats, fish, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruits, tubers, nuts, and seeds. Foods that are processed, or those with added sugar, are prohibited, as are grains, legumes, and dairy products.
Atkins Diet. Dr. Robert Atkins, a cardiologist, pioneered the method of going on a diet not all at once, but in phases. This diet starts with a two-week “induction” phase, which is the most restrictive, then moves through three more lenient ones, until dieters get to the “maintenance” phase, and are allowed to eat as many “healthy carbs” as their bodies can tolerate without gaining weight.
South Beach Diet. Like the Atkins Diet, the South Beach diet was invented by a cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatston. The two diets are also similar in their four-phase structure. But there are differences in their view of saturated fats. South Beach recommends minimizing saturated fats, like butter, whereas Atkins is more permissive. In addition, the South Beach Diet allows more carbs, so it’s sometimes considered a “modified” low-carb diet.