3 Pitfalls of Low Carb Dieting

In every instance the problem with fads is that they go out of style almost as quickly as they became popular. Which is why every time we turn on the television we always see an advertisement for some kind of new diet or miracle weight loss pill, which some of us inevitably try only to find that they don't work.

The latest fad diets are those that advocate eating very little or no carbohydrates whatsoever. The most popular of these being the Atkins diet. However, while these types of diets are great for helping with quick weight loss, they simply cannot support a long term healthy lifestyle for the simple fact that the human body needs carbohydrates. So while many so called fitness gurus claim no carbs or low carbs is the way to live a long and healthy life, the following list explains why they are wrong.

Pitfalls of Low-carb Dieting #1 Not understanding the difference between good carbs and bad carbs

There are carbohydrates that are good for you and those that are bad. Bad carbohydrates include foods such as white bread, white rice and sugar. Good carbohydrates come in the form of whole grain foods, such as wheat bread, cheerios and pasta. When it comes to avoiding carbohydrates, it is important to avoid the bad ones and focus on the good ones. However, it is possible to eat more good carbohydrates than your body needs, so make sure and watch your daily intake.

Pitfalls of Low-carb Dieting #2 No energy

An important aspect of living a healthy lifestyle is exercise. However, if your body doesn't have the energy needed for activity you won't be able to sustain healthy levels of activity during a workout long enough to receive any benefits. This is where eating good carbohydrates comes into play. When you eat good carbohydrates you then have energy to exercise, and in turn, burn calories and carbohydrates so that your body doesn't transfer them into fat and store them on your body.

Pitfall of Low-carb Dieting #3 Poor nutrients

Most fruits are packed full of carbohydrates, but if you avoid eating them altogether, you're denying your body the many healthy nutrients that fruits have to offer. Fruit offers numerous long term health benefits that lower the risk of such diseases a heart disease and cancer in older people.

Low carb dieting was developed for people who want a quick weigh loss fix, but don't want to have to exercise too much to achieve results. Unfortunately, this type of diet doesn't work long term because a person's body will eventually reach a point where it is demanding carbohydrates, and the moment a person begins eating carbohydrates again the weight will begin to return almost immediately.

In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a person must eat a healthy portion of good carbohydrates each day, as well as exercise in order to avoid stockpiling too many carbohydrates in their system. When you get right down to the heart of the matter, the only way to live a healthy lifestyle is through a healthy diet and exercise. Fad diets will come and go, but this old fashioned method will always exist for the fact that it is proven to work.