Top Ten Reasons to go Low-Carb Today

Eat delicious food, lose weight, and lower your risk of many major health problems? Well, that would do it for me – but for other readers who aren’t as trusting or need further explanation, here is a nice list of reasons why restricted carbohydrate eating should be your first step toward a new you. So here they are in no particular order (most of them, that is).

(and why its 100x better for your than the “recommended” diet)

1) You’ll Drop excess fat quickly

No matter if you have 20 pounds to lose or 250, restricting carbohydrates is the best and quickest proven method of turning your current fat storing (or completely stalled) metabolism into a well oiled fat burning machine.

Notice I said “fat” instead of “weight”. That’s because eating a proper low-carb diet gives the body all the building blocks it needs to keep your muscles and bones strong and healthy. You’ll have no worries about losing muscle mass (i.e. lean body weight), like on a typical low-calorie / low-fat diet. We are losing ‘fat and size’, not merely ‘weight’.

2) Greatly improves your blood profile (BP, triglycerides, LDL, etc.)

In addition to fat loss, you’ll also experience an improvement in aspects of – blood pressure, lowered levels of “bad” cholesterol (yes, even with eating tons of fat), and at the same time, elevating the “good” cholesterol – all greatly reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other cardiovascular issues. In many people, these changes can occur in at little as 3 weeks!

3) You’ll feel better and get a huge energy boost

Most people experience an exciting side effect of this type of diet. Namely a huge energy boost due to their diet working WITH their body’s internal systems instead of AGAINST it.

4) It will make an exercise routine much more productive

Some people bust their ass at the gym constantly – all under the misguided theory that every calorie burned is one step closer to a better and thinner future. Well, I’m sorry to say that its not quite that simple. The calories-in / calories-out dogma has been debunked. At best – someone on a low-fat diet is just burning off some of the excess sugar in their bloodstream, at worst, they’re “working up an appetite” to consume MORE high-carb calories and actually gain MORE weight.

When you’re on a proper low-carb diet, you are constantly burning fat for fuel – meaning that any increased activity level only increases fat burning and fat cell oxidation.

5) Gain muscle easier (or with no work at all)

Most people don’t get anywhere NEAR their protein intake requirement on a daily basis. Your lean body mass needs this to repair damaged tissues and strengthen bones (not to mention power your immune system functions). When doing resistance exercises a low-carb diet allows for proper natural secretion of both Human Growth Hormone and testosterone with are essential to building healthy muscle mass (a carb laden diet suppresses production of both hormones).

6) Less time in the (dreaded) dentists chair

This is an easy side effect to consider – no more addictive sugar and sweets means a huge reduction in annoying (and possibly painful) cavities and dentist torture visits. That’s a big WIN in my book.

7) Clears up seemingly unrelated (and directly related) problems

Don’t be surprised in you find huge relief for pre-existing problems related to – gastritis, reflux, and indigestion, as well as improvement in other inflammatory issues such as asthma, rashes, and swelling – not to mention you’ll be getting sick MUCH less often (due to improve immune system response).

(You can even end up with younger looking skin!)

8) You can actually MAINTAIN the loss permanently

I’m sure we’ve all known someone who has lost some weight on the “recommended” diet high in complex carbohydrates, super low in calories, and virtually devoid of fat and good protein. Do we want to abuse ourselves and submit to eating 900 calories a day for the rest of our (sickly) lives? That sounds like a pretty miserable life to me. High protein diets are shown to help people keep off weight much easier. Many “low-carbers” eat around the same number of calories they ate before going low-carb – in fact, some people (myself included) can eat MORE and still lose / maintain weight.

9) You get to enjoy rich and flavorful foods

Rice cakes and 7-grain granola bars? Oh Please. Its got nothing on steak, eggs, seafood, fresh vegetables, fruit, berries. You know.. REAL FOOD.

10) You NEVER have to be hungry

Our bodies have a unique reaction to diets rich in protein, good fats and devoid of carbohydrate junk. They have a built-in “off switch” for hunger. Its easy to become satisfied. Basically, when you keep your metabolic hormones in balance, your caloric intake will take care of itself “-”. It will “self regulate”.

Got any feedback? I’d love to hear it.

(photo by Mark Omni via Flickr)

Related posts:

1. 3 Carnivore Kitchen Essentials for Low-Carb Cooking Excellence
2. Coming to a telephone pole near you – Mark Sisson’s Primal Blueprint Flyer
3. Eating Low-Carb on a Low Budget OR “Cheap Meats”
4. Basics 1: Easy, Quick, and Safe Weight Loss