http://www.lowcarbwizard.com/carbohydrate/low-diet-plans.html Low carbohydrate diet plans are popular because they can help you lose a lot of weight in a little time. But low carbohydrate diet plans are waning in popularity. Here's why. en-us Sun, 11 Dec 2005 10:21:33 EST Sun, 11 Dec 2005 10:21:33 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 Millions of people have turned to the ever-popular low carbohydrate diet plans as a quick weight loss fix. But more and more, they are going off these plans too, only to gain the weight back--and then some! Why the Switch? In the beginning, a low carb diet plan sounds tempting. After all, you get meat, eggs and cheese in practically unlimited amounts, right? Well, not really. A lot of folks took this to mean they could have the greasy bacon-and-eggs breakfast every day and any kind of meats they wanted with no concern for the fat content. The problem with this logic is that although most low carbohydrate diet plans are designed to burn fat, there's a certain amount of saturated fat that stays in your arteries. Besides, the kind of fat these plans burn are stored body fat, not the fat you're currently consuming. The most popular low carbohydrate diet plans are finally advising that you stick to lean meats, and if you do that, you're probably fine. But just like on any other diet, you're going to get tired of the same old foods all the time. Still, to lose weight, you're going to have to make dietary changes, like it or not. The problem with low carbohydrate diet plans is that they're too restrictive. We're a carb eating country. We love our pasta, potatoes and desserts. Most of us eat far more carbs than we need every day, which is cause for weight gain. So in a sense, cutting back on carbs is a good idea. But cutting back to the 20-60 grams a day that most low carbohydrate diet plans suggest is cutting back to far. If you want to cut carbs, don't go lower than 130 grams a day. That's the amount your body needs--and will use--each day. Less than that, you will likely experience some or all of the following side effects: Bad breath Headaches Nausea Constipation Risk of cancer (long-term) Risk of osteoporosis (long-term) Risk of kidney damage (long-term) Lack of energy Moodiness Whether to go on a low carb diet is ultimately your decision, but at least consider what we've told you first. Research it further too. It's always good to make an informed decision. Sun, 11 Dec 2005 10:21:33 EST