Low Carb Diet Plans

Low carbohydrate (or low carb) diet plans have really increased in popularity in the last ten years or so. This is in large part due to the success of the ever popular Atkins diet and the low carb diets that have followed it such as the South Beach diet. But you don't need to buy a book or a sign up for a high priced diet program to follow a low carb diet. All you need is some knowledge and one of the many low carb free diet plans that can be found on the web.

Low carb diets are low in carbohydrates (duh!) and high in fats and proteins. How low the carbs are supposed to be depends on the diet plan. Typically, low carb diet plans start you off for a week or two of very low carbs. Meals typically consist of meat and vegetables with some zero or very low carb sauces or dressings; no dairy, grains, or fruit allowed. Then certain carbs are slowly added to the meals but never at a high percentage and always staying below a certain level. Typically, carbs will account for 5% - 20% of your calories on a low carb diet.

Why the low carbs? When you eat carbohydrates it raises your blood sugar level. This in turn causes your body to release insulin. It is insulin's job to get that sugar (glucose) out of the bloodstream and into your cells. First it tries putting glucose into muscles and when the muscles are full insulin pumps the remaining glucose into fat cells. While the insulin is doing its work your body will burn the glucose in your bloodstream first before trying to burn your fat.

So now that you know the basics of low carbohydrate diets you know what to look for when searching for free low carb diet plans on the web or non-free books in the bookstore. The low carb diet plan should steer you away from starchy carbs like white bread, white rice, and pasta and encourage you to eat vegetables to get the fiber, vitamins, and minerals your body needs.

One final thing to take into consideration is that a low carb diet totally goes against the USDA's food pyramid guidelines. Although low carb diet plans are popular modern science has not determined whether they are healthy diet plans or not. There are issues with the increased levels of fat consumption (particularly saturated fat consumption) and it's effect on cholesterol in a low carb diet. You should do the research ad check with your doctor to see if low carb diets are right for you.