Cut curbs and lose weight, right? Low-carbohydrate diets are a current weight-loss craze. The rationale behind the use of low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss is that foods high on carbohydrate stimulate the release of insulin, which is a hormone that promotes energy storage. It is suggested that the more insulin you take, the more fat you will store. High glycerin index foods which increase blood sugar and then stimulate insulin release, are therefore hypothesized to shift metabolism toward fat storage. In contrast, a low – carbohydrate diet causes less of rise in insulin and therefore is suggested to promote fat loss. Recent studies on the effectiveness of low-carbohydrate diets for weight loss show that these diets do promote weight loss. Some of the reason for this is that when carbohydrate intake is low ketenes are produced- these help suppress appetite, so the dieter eats less. In general people who are consuming low-carbohydrate diets are also consuming low-energy diets. The weight loss on these diets, as with other weight-loss diets, it caused by consuming less energy than the body expends, rather than the metabolic effects of insulin.
The popularity of low-carbohydrate diets makes people think that carbohydrates are fattening. In fact, carbohydrates provide 4 Calories per gram: less than half the 9 calories per gram provided by fat. However, this is not to say that if carbohydrates are consumed in excess, they won’t add pounds. Anytime energy is consumed in excess of requirements regardless of the source of the excess, weight will increase. But carbohydrate is no more fattening than fat or protein. In fact, excess carbohydrate in the diet is less efficient at producing body fat than excess fat in the diet. Unrefined carbohydrates might even help reduce energy intake because the fiber in these foods adds bulk to the gastrointestinal tract and is digested and absorbed more slowly causing you to feel full longer and after consuming less.
There is evidence that in some people an abnormal craving for carbohydrate – rich foods contributes to their weight problems. Carbohydrate craving is a component of a variety of disorders including obesity, premenstrual syndrome, bulimia, depression, and seasonal affective disorder. One theory proposed to explain carbohydrate craving is that these individuals have an abnormality in the regulation of brain levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This abnormality causes them to seek carbohydrate like a drug to increase serotonin levels, which improves their mood.
