The Low Carbohydrate Trend

The trend in the nutrition industry in recent years has been toward low carbohydrate dieting. With such a diet a person eats no or very few calories from bread, pasta,potatoes, fruits, and dairy while eating more meat, eggs, and other high protein foods. Despite their current popularity, these diets are problematic in several ways, especially for those participating in a regular exercise program.

Without carbohydrates that can be used as an energy source, the body shifts into a state called ketosis. Ketosis is when the body burns fat and fat like compounds called Ketones as an energy source. Ketosis increases fluid loss, resulting in an initial weight loss of five or more pounds during the first few days of the diet. Dieters encouraged by this initial weight loss often continue dieting without realizing that their weight loss can be attributed to water loss.