What Is Expected on a Low-carb Diet?

Low-carb diets, popularized by Dr. Robert Atkins, Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades, and Drs. Rachael and Richard Heller, are a nutritious, sustainable way to lose weight and improve health. They differ from other diets, so you should know what to expect before you begin.

Description

• Low-carb dieters eat meat, eggs, dairy, most vegetables and some fruits. They count carbohydrate grams instead of fat grams or calories. Menus are high in protein but have few starches and no sugar. Potatoes, dried beans and grain-derived foods like bread and pasta are not allowed.

Function

• The low-carb diet changes the body's energy source from sugars to fats. At first, you may feel tired and sluggish, but according to "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," those who eat this way for several weeks usually find that they feel better and have more energy.

Benefits

• Low-carb dieters report rapid, easy weight loss, according to Dana Carpender, author of "How I Gave Up My Low-Fat Diet and Lost 40 Pounds." They are not hungry between meals and have fewer cravings. Most people have more energy and feel better overall. People with health issues like diabetes and hypoglycemia see improvement in their management of those disorders as reported in "Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution." Some people see improvement in their lipid profile, as Carpender claims.

Misconceptions

• A low-carb diet is not "no-carb" or meat-only. All low-carb plans -- including Atkins, Carbohydrate Addicts and Protein Power -- recommend ample servings of allowed vegetables, and some permit modest portions of lower-carbohydrate fruit.