Low Carb Diets

Carbohydrates are a main cause of weight gain for most people who over indulge in eating foods that contain carbs.  If you are looking for a way to lose weight, you may want to try a low carb or no carb diet such as the South Beach diet.

The South Beach diet works in steps to lower your carb intake and help you to lose weight.  When you start off with a weight loss program that includes the South Beach diet, you will at first cut out all of the carbs from your diet and eat protein rich foods.  This includes meats, poultry and fish, fresh vegetables and fruits along with some types of nuts.

One problem with no or low carb diets is that for those who have heart problems, a diet high in protein can actually be damaging to the heart due to the high cholesterol levels in many of the fresh meats that will be consumed.  It is important to understand what good proteins are and which will be heart healthy.  Lean meats and poultry are healthy.  The innards such as liver or kidneys contain higher amounts of cholesterol that would be damaging to the heart if not eaten in moderation.

You can eat all of the healthy fruits and vegetables in a low carb diet such as the South Beach diet and this is a good thing.  Many who decide to go on such drastic weight loss plans prefer to go completely vegetarian.  They feel that the risks associated with high cholesterol are too dangerous.  By sticking to fruits and vegetables there is no risk of heart disease due to fatty meats that are cholesterol laden.

There is no need to get rid of meats all together to maintain a healthy low carb diet.  You can simply choose to eat the leanest beef and pork and stick to skinless chicken breasts, instead of the more fatty legs and thighs.  You should also stay away from meats like sausages, hot dogs and bacon.   These contain a high amount of cholesterol and are bad for your heart.