The Skinny: Low-Carb Diets

I KNEW this fad diet crap was a big, steaming pile of you-know-what. Discovery Health interviews nutrition expert and cancer-prevention specialist Dr. Moshe Shike about fad diets that require the reduction or elimination of carbohydrates. Here's what he has to say on the matter:

These "high-protein, low-carbohydrate" diets have not been proven to be safe or effective in the long run. We know, for example, that high-protein diets may be harmful to the kidneys, and are associated with calcium loss, which can result in bone problems...

Fad diets prohibit a lot of foods — in the case of high-protein diets, carbohydrate intake is severely restricted. And guess what? People lose weight not because of the altered food balance, but simply because they are restricting calories. Of course they will lose weight!
Now, if you are going to restrict calories — which is vital to losing weight — isn't it better to restrict them in a way that is consistent with a healthy diet?

So that's the skinny on low carb diets. They're a hoax, and bad for you, to boot! Click here for the full article.