Diet Fallacy #8: “Low-carb products will help you lose weight”

We're living in an era which may go down in history as the Dietary Dark Ages.

Even though more people today are on a diet than ever before, the numbers of the overweight, of the clinically obese, of the diabetic and of those suffering from cardiovascular disease, are at an all time high.

Ironically, the darkest days in human diet history have seen the greatest-ever explosion of "health" products?in particular the all-pervasive low-carb offerings.

Low-carb products appeal to low-carb believers who desperately try to minimize carb consumption, assuming that carbs are the culprit for fat gain. Yet, in spite of the widely advertised low-carb diet and the massive consumption of low-carb products, most low-carb dieters fail to maintain a lean body.

Statistically, in the long run a low-carb dieter will most likely suffer from a fat gain rebound, gaining more weight then they initially lost. There are two major reasons for the failure of low-carb products to ensure longterm fat loss.

One: Low-carb diets adversely affect the human capacity to generate energy. build tissue and maintain optimum health (See diet fallacy # 5).

Two: Low-carb products are often made with low-grade carb substitutes, chemical additives, artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohol and often hydrogenated oil.

Low-carb products, in particular protein bars, typically have a funky aftertaste?not to mention severe adverse side effects such as indigestion, bloating and nausea.

Due to their often-inferior nutritional composition and high chemical content, low-carb products may increase the overall metabolic stress on the liver. That may lead to the accumulation of metabolites such as coenzyme A and acetate as well as estrogen chemicals in the liver, which causes insulin resistance and accumulation of stubborn fat and abdominal fat, respectively.

Furthermore, for many overweight people who suffer from Dismetabolic-Syndrome, following a rigid low-carb/high fat diet may be the worst thing they can do.

Researchers at Wallenberg lab, Lund University, Malmo, Sweden recently published recently an assay stating that individuals who suffer from Dismetabolic-Syndrome generally have the typical symptoms such as obesity / abdominal obesity as well as dislipidemia - impaired fat metabolism with a high level of serum lipids.

For that matter, any application of uncontrolled high fat/low-carb diet in these cases may unfortunately accelerate the damage by increasing the levels of serum lipids, which makes patients more insulin resistant and prone to gain more fat, in particular abdominal fat.

In conclusion:

Don't attempt to fool your body, stay away from products loaded with chemicals or cheap carb substitutes. If you suffer from abdominal obesity or dislipideimia, high fat/low-carb products could be your worst choice.

Ori Hofmekler is the author of The Warrior Diet and Maximum Muscle, Minimum Fat, published by Dragon Door Publication. For more information on the Warrior Diet Fat Loss Program and Controlled Fatigue Training (CFT), workshops and certification seminars log onto www.warriordiet.com or call 818-992-1994 (866)WAR-DIET. For personal and group training in L.A. call 818-992-1962.