by Susan Patterson
The biggest fad to hit the dieting world is the low-carb craze.  This diet plan was first introduced in the 1970s with the book Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution.  Originally published in 1972, it outlines a program that strictly limits the amount of carbohydrates in the diet.  It sold millions of copies within the first two years, and the updated version remained on the bestseller list for an entire decade. 

The diet is great for those who don’t like fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  The first two weeks, you are only allowed five grams of carbs a day, which come from trace amounts of what you eat in the diet.  No dairy, fruit, grains, bread or cereals are allowed at all.  Yet, you can eat unlimited amounts of fat with no distinction between good and bad fats.  Lots of supplements are part of the plan, as well as measuring your urine for levels of ketosis, which is supposed to be what causes you to lose the weight.  The plan says that you may experience quick weight loss during the first two weeks, also known as the induction period.  So how does this diet measure up?

Current guidelines recommend eating a balanced diet including 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, which would be impossible to do on this plan.  In addition, other recommendations include consuming whole grains, another low-carb no-no.  While widespread evidence suggests a link between red meat and increased risk for heart disease, a no-carb eater can have as much of this as they want.  The diet seems to defy all logic and is not well regarded among the professional health care community.

Skip the fad diets, which can cause more health risks than rewards in the long run.  A balanced diet is the key, making sure that you eat proper amounts of the necessary nutrients in order to stay healthy.  If hunger is a problem, you might want to try a natural appetite suppressant like hoodia to avoid eating too much at the wrong time. This South African plant is praised for its ability to curb appetite without the jittery side effects found in over the counter diet pills that contain harsh stimulants like caffeine.  It’s also available in a hoodia shot, which is a fast-acting version of the capsule form.