The Differences Between Low-Fat Diets Vs Low-Carb Diets

The differences between low-fat diets vs low-carb diets are such that they are really at complete opposite ends of the dieting spectrum. The food you eat basically consists of 3 things: protein, fat and carbohydrate. So it follows, that a low fat diet will include a higher intake of protein and carbohydrates, compared to a low carb diet with a higher intake of protein and fat. However, these are not the only differences between low-fat diets vs low-carb diets that you need to be concerned about. It is the nature of the foods that is important.

So let's take a look at the particular sorts of foods that you're allowed to eat as part of each type of diet. This is where the real differences between low-fat diets vs low-carb diets show up.

In a low fat diet, you are essentially trying to limit your intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. You are encouraged to eat fruit and vegetables containing a good balance of vitamins and minerals, along with grain products such as cereals, past and breads that are low in cholesterol. Your protein intake is limited to lean meats such as chicken and turkey, avoiding red meats that are high in cholesterol. This type of diet when aligned with regular exercise will enable you to adequately lose and maintain your weight at a healthy rate.

In a low carb diet the foods you're encouraged to eat tend to be the opposite of those mentioned above. You cannot eat many fruits, vegetables and cereal products in the early stage of the diet due to their high carb content. Also, there is less limitation on the types of protein you can eat, placing more fatty red meats on the menu. As you can imagine, it is possible that you food intake can contain too much cholesterol and not enough essential vitamins and minerals. However, if done right it's also possible to achieve a greater short-term weight loss on this diet.

There have been no long-term comparisons of these diets beyond around 12 months, but it would appear that results on both diets over such periods end up about the same. The main advantage of low fat diets is they're sustainable over longer periods, whereas maintaining a low carb diet over a long period may place a risk on your health.

If you'd like to know more about low-carb diets and how it's possible to maintain a healthy low carb food intake, check out some of the other pages on our web site. There you'll find information about our recommended merchants who can supply low carb diet products to help you maintain a healthy diet.

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