If the Low-Carb Diet Really Worked, Would It Still Be Popular?

The problem with many low-carb diets is that they aren’t necessarily low in calories, explains Dr. Joanne Slavin, a weight loss researcher from the University of Minnesota. These diets can also be tough to maintain because they ultimately limit variety. Despite what you may think, a diet lower in fat and higher in carbohydrates can indeed help you lose weight and improve your health. The key is to be smart about your food choices. According to Dr. Slavin, the healthiest diets are high in carbs, but you need to choose wisely. For example, we should capitalize on high-carb good guys like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes and minimize refined carbohydrates and sweetened beverages. Tufts University energy metabolism expert Edward Saltzman, MD, couldn’t agree more. Dr. Saltzman believes the low-carb craze crashed for the following reasons:

• It is difficult to follow a low-carb diet in a world full of carbohydrate-rich foods—many of our favorite and most-craved foods are rich in carbohydrates.
• Low-carb diets ultimately limit dietary variety, and that’s usually not a good thing over the long term.
• Low-carb diets may, although not necessarily, restrict many healthful components of the diet (including fruit, vegetables, and whole grains).
• Low-carb diets may not result in a reduction in food intake for everyone. Successful weight loss diets must facilitate satiety and keep hunger tolerable. Some people will respond better to a dietary strategy than others, and not everyone will find a low-carb diet allows them to eat less in the long term.

A Smarter Approach

Rather than focus exclusively on cutting out carbs, the healthier and more comforting approach is to eat fewer refined carbs and more “smart” carbs (those that contribute fiber and important nutrients and do not produce a quick rise in insulin levels: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans).

Are you with me?

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
The Recipe Doctor Blog