Everyday Fitness

Okay, maybe not zero carbs; we don't want that. Rather, low carbs are an effective method for losing weight. Atkins has to be the poster child of low carb diets. The idea is this:

Insulin is the hormone that triggers our bodies to store the food we eat as glycogen and fat. Insulin is made in response to elevated blood sugar. Without elevated blood sugar, there is no insulin. Instead, our bodies make the hormone Glucagon. Glucagon triggers our bodies to break down glycogen and fat for energy.

The state where your body relies primarily on fat for energy is termed ketogenic, which you might hear thrown around when people talk about low carb diets. That stems from ketogenesis; a process in your liver that converts fat into ketone bodies; a usable energy source for the brain. Because as it turns out, the brain is the only part of the body that can't burn fat directly. Which I think is a relief, considering your brain is made up of so much fatty tissue. Hate to have my brain eating itself whenever I get hungry.

What don't I like about low carb diets? Now this is all speculation mind you, but they are things I think about:

• For one, ketone bodies can make the blood more acidic if they aren't burned off with excercise.
  
• Some low carb diets advocate eating anything so long as it's low carb; I'd suggest staying away from too many saturated fats, which can be bad for the heart. Instead, I'd get more energy from poly-unsaturated vegetable oils. Poly-unsaturated fats tend to improve the cardiovascular system, lower bad cholesterol (LDL), and raise good cholesterol (HDL).
  
• It's important to take a multivitamin, and eat a few greens each day to ensure you're still getting the vitamins you need.
  
• Cutting carbs doesn't seem like a good thing to do for prolonged periods of time. I tried it, and felt like garbage. I feel like depriving your body of its favored nutrient for more than a month is cruel.
  

Right now, I'm trying something called the anabolic diet. You don't eat carbs during the week while you work out, but then eat carbs on the weekend to replenish your body's glycogen stores. It seems like the best of both worlds to me! If you're interested in slimming down and have the patience to cut carbs for a little while, I definitely recommend checking out the anabolic diet. And if at any time you feel uncomfortable, then stop. Always stay safe above all!