Low Gi Diet or Low Carb Diet ? Which One Is Best? > NetSparsh

Home
>
Weight Loss
>
Low Gi Diet or Low Carb Diet ? Which One Is Best?

Low Gi Diet or Low Carb Diet ? Which One Is Best?

These days, most everyone has heard of low carb diets such as the South Beach and Atkins diet but the GI or glycemic index diet is a fairly new name on the diet scene. While low carb diets restrict the quantity of carbohydrates, the GI diet focuses on the quality of carbohydrates. It works by promoting the consumption of foods that are low on the glycemic index, foods which will have a gently effect on your blood sugar levels and keep you full longer.

A typical low carb diet, has a restrictive phase in the beginning where your carbohydrate intake is severely limited. You can eat all the meat you want and fats are also unlimited, although the South Beach Diet does encourage you to stick to low fat meats and healthy fats. As the diet progresses, you can gradually add in more carbohydrates, typically those with a low glycemic index are also those that are lower in carbs.

Although a low GI diet might not be one that you've heard much about before, it has actually been around since the 1970's and is used in many European countries to help manage diabetes. Recently, however, this way of eating has gotten a lot of attention as a healthy way to control weight. This diet focuses on carbohydrates ? "good carbs" have a low glycemic index and you should eat plenty of them (incidentally, these are also the foods that we know to be good for us like fruits, vegetables and whole grains). "Bad carbs" have a high glycemic index and should be eaten in moderation and mixed with the low glycemic index carbs to lower the overall GI of a meal. Since this diet focuses only on carbs it is very easy for vegetarians to adopt this way of eating.

In comparison, a low carb diet can be limiting in fruits and vegetables which are high in vitamins, minerals and enzymes as well as fiber. Many people associate low carb diets with a license to eat as much saturated fat as you want, but that choice is up to the individual so we really can't fault the diet for this misconception. A low GI diet is full of fruits, vegetables, fiber and low in fat but emphasis the good fats found in nuts. It encourages eating lean meats in moderation. While we all know that meats and fats are no carb and green leafy vegetables are low carb, some may not be aware of what foods have a low glycemic index. Most vegetables (except potatoes, beets, pumpkin) have a very low GI. Some fruits that have a low GI include citrus fruits, apples, plums and peaches while most other fruits have a medium GI value. Oatmeal, most pasta and whole wheat bread also have a low gi.

So which diet is best?

Where many people in the health and nutrition profession consider a low carb diet to be unhealthy, most everyone would consider a gi diet to be very healthy. Studies have shown that eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help to bolster your immune system thus allowing you to fight disease and eating high fat meats may adversely affect your health and help contribute to heart disease. That being said, it has also been shown that being overweight is a major health risk for many diseases so the best diet is probably one that works for you! Some folks might respond better to a low carb, others to a low gi. Either way, it makes sense to make healthy food choices, limit food intake and exercise for your good health.

Lee Dobbins is owner and editor of Low Carb And Low GI Resource where you can learn more about the glycemic index value of foods.

In The News:

E! Online
The Bachelor's Catherine Giudici Lowe Documents Her Weight-Loss Journey Three Months Postpartum
E! Online
"I've been working with a personal trainer and the owner of Fit180 studios in the DFW area who has been helping me with a diet plan, building muscle and losing body fat. Julie Clayton has been super instrumental in my weight loss journey. I have never ...

and more »

HuffPost
The five reasons your weight loss stalls
HuffPost
If you've been struggling to lose weight for a long time, it's likely that at some point the following has happened: you start a new fitness plan, filled to the brim with enthusiasm. You lose some weight, and you feel great. Then your weight loss slows ...
There's new evidence that a strict diet isn't the best way to lose weightBusiness Insider
Want to Lose Weight for Good? Give Your Diet an (Occasional) BreakBicycling
The Military Diet Provides Little to no Nutritional Value and Leads to Rebounds in Weight Gain, Says Diet DocMarkets Insider
Deccan Herald
all 11 news articles »

Lifehacker Australia
Orangetheory Does Not Have a Magic Secret to Weight Loss
Lifehacker Australia
If you're the type to spend every Saturday with Lululemon stretched across your ass and a bottle of Smartwater® within your reach, you've probably heard of Orangetheory Fitness. The Florida-based franchise, known for the orange lighting of its high ...

Weight Loss, Dating, and Relationships | Psychology Today
Psychology Today (blog)
Does the stigma against obesity even apply to people who have successfully lost weight? New research provides a look at how this kind of stigma can affect ...

and more »

mindbodygreen.com
This Could Be Why You STILL Can't Lose Weight
mindbodygreen.com
This is because you trained your body to get by on a smaller amount of calories, so when you increase the calories, you gain weight. An effective weight-loss plan needs to be designed around the quality of the food, the nutrient density, and the ...

Men's Fitness
Bryan Dawson on his inspiring 100-pound weight loss transformation
Men's Fitness
Bryan Dawson on his inspiring 100-pound weight loss transformation. His name is Bryan. He goes by “Juice”. He's down 100 pounds but still has some work left to do. You good with that? by Joe Wuebben. September 21, 2017 4.31pm. Courtesy of Bryan ...

Today.com
Why stopping your diet (for a while) may boost your weight loss
Today.com
Having trouble losing weight? Take a break from your diet — it may help you shed more pounds and keep them off in the long term, new research has found. People who dieted for two weeks, then paused cutting calories for two weeks — and repeated that ...
Cheat days may actually help dieters lose weight, study findsABC News
How to Lose Weight: Two-Week Diet Better for Dropping PoundsNewsweek
Boost weight loss by taking 2-week dieting breaks, says studyMedical News Today
HuffPost -Health.com -Atlanta Journal Constitution
all 46 news articles »

USA TODAY
Weight loss may come down to what's in your poop, study finds
USA TODAY
Wondering why a diet's not working for you? Stop watching your waistline and consider something a little deeper — like the feces lodged in your intestines. A study this month in the International Journal of Obesity found that a specific diet's success ...
Taking a break from dieting may improve weight lossScience Daily
Finding it hard to lose weight? Testing your poop may be the solution.Men's Fitness
Intestinal bacteria can indicate likeliness of successful weight loss from dietingNews-Medical.net
NDTV -Wikipedia -Business Insider
all 63 news articles »

Express.co.uk
Weight loss: Man got rid of his belly fat and lost three stone by cutting out THIS food
Express.co.uk
WEIGHT loss: A man got rid of his belly fat by overhauling his diet plan and now he has shared the tricks he used to achieve his new body. How to lose weight fast is a question those who are overweight want to know - but this is also how to do it safely.

HuffPost
Weight Loss Tip: If You Don't Have the Time, Make the Time!
HuffPost
It's a beautiful, first day of Fall 2017 here on Long Island, and after a couple of days of hardcore physical activity, I think today's going to be a much deserved rest day for me. After performing several dozen sprints last night at my softball games ...

Google News

Low Gi Diet or Low Carb Diet ? Which One Is Best?

Weight Loss Weight Loss