FAQs.

Is lowering Carb intake good for you

You've heard it so many times that it may cause you to worry. "Eating fat is bad for you." "Low carb diets will cause heart disease." And the persistent but totally false, "Atkins died of his own diet". Well, you'll be happy to know that the science is on our side, and it's getting harder and harder for the naysayers to put up a fight. Here is some ammunition to silence those nagging inner and outer voices when it comes to low carb diets and your heart. Let's start with this large study, which showed that glycemic load was the biggest dietary factor in preventing heart disease, and that even eating a lot of animal fat and protein did not raise the risk of heart disease when the diet was low in carbohydrate.

Is a low carb diet right for you?

It should not surprise anyone by now to hear that there is no one diet that will work for every body. Although the term "low carb diets" encompasses a range of carbohydrate restriction, it still isn’t for everyone - it really depends on how well your own body processes sugar.

What is the glycemic index?

Some low carb diets (such as South Beach) rely on the glycemic index as a way to decide which foods to choose. The glycemic index sounds complicated, but it's just a way of getting an idea of how a food is likely to affect blood sugar.

Is all protein alike?

Some of the protein you eat contains all the amino acids needed to build new proteins. This kind is called complete protein. Animal sources of protein tend to be complete. Other protein sources lack one or more amino acids that the body can't make from scratch or create by modifying another amino acid. Called incomplete proteins, these usually come from fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts.

Vegetarians need to be aware of this. To get all the amino acids needed to make new protein - and thus to keep the body's systems in good shape - people who don't eat meat, fish, poultry, eggs, or dairy products should eat a variety of protein-containing foods each day.

What about protein versus fat?

Animal protein and vegetable protein probably have the same effects on health. It's the protein package that's likely to make a difference. A 6-ounce broiled Porterhouse steak is a great source of complete protein - 38 grams worth. But it also delivers 44 grams of fat, 16 of them saturated. That's almost three-fourths of the recommended daily intake for saturated fat. The same amount of salmon gives you 34 grams of protein and 18 grams of fat, 4 of them saturated. A cup of cooked lentils has 18 grams of protein, but under 1 gram of fat.

The bottom line is that it's important to pay attention to what comes along with the protein in your food choices. If you are partial to beef, stick with the leanest cuts. Fish or poultry are excellent alternatives. Even better options are vegetable sources of protein, such as beans, nuts, and whole grains.