Being Low-Carb isn't enough

by Leslie Jones McCloud

People who consider themselves on a low-carb diet still need to watch their calories. Research shows most low-carb dieters are in a state of calorie denial. Boca Raton nutritionist and eating disorder specialist, Marita P. Riethmiller RD LD/N DEDT MEd, said most of the 2000 or so diets available to consumers may work for a while but they are basically “gimmicks,” and unhealthy in the long run. Going on a “gimmick” diet throws off the body’s natural processing ways, she said.

“I see things in the grocer that say low-carb but the product never had carbs – like lettuce,” she said. Reaching for high-fat low-carb foods like bacon fills your arteries with animal fat, she said. Just taking the bun off of a cheeseburger isn’t enough.

“If the body doesn’t get what it needs it takes what it can get – it makes adjustments,” she said, but over a period of time, the body can begin to react and malfunction. Using fat for energy – as in low carb-diets – the body gets used to it. It tricks the body into burning fat all the time but overextends the gallbladder,” she said.

The majority of doctors (76%) interviewed say a poor calorie-counting attitude can hurt a dieter’s chances for long-term weight loss success, according a recent survey conducted by West Palm Beach diet company, Slim-Fast. Experts reviewing the new data are concerned by the disconnected attitude given the Food and Drug Administration’s announcement of its “Calories Count” approach, which underscores the need to control calories when managing weight.