Should You Put Your Children on a Low Carb Diet?

The South Beach, Atkins New Diet Revolution, Protein Power Diet and the Sugar Busters Diet are just some of the low-carb diets that have gained remarkable fame lately. The popularity of these low carb diets has made many parents out there wonder whether they should get their kids to eat a low-carb diet, with less bread, pasta, potatoes, etc. Parents of fat or obese children are especially curious as to whether it is alright to put children in a low-carb diet like the ones mentioned above. They want to know if putting their childen in a low carb diet can help them lose weight and become healthier.

You cannot blame parents for wanting to put their children in a low carb diet. They are only concerned with their kids health. But is it really right to put children in a low carb diet?

The main claim of the advocates of low carb diets is that such a diet is the most effective way to lose weight. They believe that a low carb diet is much better than a low fat diet in helping fat or obese individuals to reach a healthy weight. The main argument of the advocates of low carb diets in the United States is the fact that many Americans followed low fat diets in the past but still gained weight or at least failed to lose weight

Of course the question is: Did Americans really follow the advice of health professionals to consume less fat? The National Center for Health Statistics, among other national health groups, reported that most Americans didn’t follow the advice of health professionals and doctors to follow a low fat diet. On the contrary, their study showed that Americans have been eating a moderately high fat diet in the past few years. They consume about 80 grams of fat everyday. What these study points is that fat consumption has been stable and has not been declining. This study also shows proves that people cannot blame the low fat diet for te prevalence of obesity in the United States. 

So we can not blame the low fat diet for the prevalence of obesity among children. It is also not right to blame carbohydrates for these health problems. Children gain weight from calories, not from carbs. In fact carbs play a very important role in the growth of children. Previous studies have show that over the last 20 years, the diet of Americans has increased an average of 200 calories per day. This, coupled with lack of physical activity, is what is causing obesity.

So many experts do not espouse a low carb diet for children. Rice, bread, potatoes and pasta should remain as mainstays in the diet of your family. These foods can be very healthy especially if prepared in a nutritious way. Remember that your kids need good nutrition to perform well in school.

It is also not advisable to give your children fatty foods. Food high in fat can lead to serious health problems for your kids later in life. These diseases include heart disease and cancer. So the best thing you can do is to limit the fat intake of your children, Remember, a fat child is not a healthy child. It is not also advisable to put your child in a low carb diet even if he is obese.