Mediterranean Diet
You’ve heard about them all over the place. Low carb diets, such as Atkins or the Pink diet is all the rage. But why shouldn’t these be used for your diet needs?
What exactly are carbs?
Carbohydrates are a form of energy and one gram of carbs is equal to 4 calories. When you eat too many carbs, the extra calories turn into fats. When you starve yourself of carbs, the body reacts in an adverse way.
It literally thinks it’s being starved and waits for extra carbs to hold for energy, such as what distance runners do. They starve themselves of carbs then load up right before a big event to get themselves ready for the running.
Also, when the energy burns, it burns in the form of glycogen, and that can lead to a problem with losing water. Literally, the only weight you lose is water. Another risk is that the blood can develop ketones, and ketosis is a dangerous side effect of low-carb diets. When the body does not provide enough carbs, ketosis can lead to many physical problems, including headaches, nausea, coma, diarrhea and other problems.
The Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean Diet is not like that at all. The Mediterranean Diet focuses on the food of countries like Greece and Italy, where the food served is served with healthier foods, fruits and vegetables, glasses of wine (one to two per day for men and one a day for women) and olive oils to naturally reduce weight, lower cholesterol and live healthier.
It also limits severely the consumption of red meat, and encourages a healthier lifestyle by being more physically active, which will make you healthier with none of the disasterous side effects.
What are the Risks of Low Carb Diets?
The goal of a diet is to lose weight, and no matter what plan you go on, you will lose some weight, but you also have to be careful when you pick a diet. Many fad diets, such as Phen-Fen and Atkins, have had severe risks of long-term health problems, including but not limited to heart disease and cancer.
You not only want to look healthy now but also healthy for life, so later on when you’re trying to impress people, you not only want to be able to say you’re healthy now, but also healthy when you’re rockin’ the rocking chair.
In conclusion, the Mediterranean diet is based on the lifestyle of the Greeks, Italians and other Mediterranean folk while low-carb diets are just fad diets, and sometimes very risky. Go with the Mediterranean diet for life.
I don’t truly think the Mediterranean diet is considered a low carb option. Yes, it has way less refined carbs (like white breads) but still uses fruits and some whole-wheat options, both of which are carbohydates. compared to most peoples eating habits this would be considered low carb anyhow. it seems that we are a carb hungry society. I’ve gotten a lot o recipes and information.