"The Low Down on Low-Carb Diets"

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Low-carb diet. Its one of those phrases everyone seems to be tossing around these days. You hear the babes from the bollywood brigade swear by it. You listen to the fitness gurus talk about it. Heck, you even overhear the aunty on the treadmill next door to you showing off her “latest” knowledge to the aunty speed walking next to her!


So what exactly is the so called “low-carb diet” and is it really all that its been made out to be? Or are there some things about it which might not be all that great for you after all? Fear not boys and girls, for I am here to break it down for you. To begin with, the low-carb diet is just that. Exactly what it sounds like. It’s a diet that focuses on keeping the amount of carbohydrates consumed to a lower amount. And what do I mean by carbs? Rice, roti, pasta, noodles, bread, muffins, cake, cereals, upma, poha, idli, puris, dosa, pizza, and basically anything that has something of a thick (or thin) doughy consistency. Now there are different variations of this sort of diet. Some people will eat their carbs in the day time and choose not to touch any food containing carbs after 7pm (so that they can burn the carb calories during the day which is easier than during the night, when the body is generally at rest). Others will choose to avoid carbs entirely and design there meals around larger amounts of proteins (chicken, dals, soya) and veggies instead.

While it is a fact that changing ones diet to a low-carb diet for a temporary period of time does aid in weight loss, and has also been proven to lower blood pressure for people who suffer from high blood pressure, its important to understand that this diet should be followed only for short periods of time and not attempted on a permanent basis. I for one believe that there is nutritional value to be gained from all food groups, and banishing one from your diet forever could lead not only to a deficiency of some sort, but also to a host of physical problems. Instead, its most essential to keep a sense of balance in your diet. Even if you do decide you would like to cut down on your carb intake, consider perhaps switching to the whole wheat version of certain kinds of carbs, for instance brown rice, whole wheat pasta, even multi-grain bread, all of which contain healthy doses of fiber which promote good digestion and provide the body fuel. Also, last but not least, always talk to your doctor before you decide to make any drastic changes in your daily diet. You have just one body boys and girls, so do yourself a favor and respect it.