The Deal Between Fruits and the Low Carb Diet

A low carbohydrate diet may seem to take a different view from conventional diet programs but studies show that it is effective in combatting weight problems. Low carbohydrate diets call for a low consumption of carbohydrates in any form and encourages high consumption of protein and fats. Some experts seem to question the low carb diet’s tolerance with the diet and how healthy is the high consumption of fat in the diet.

Some also question the exclusion of most fruits in the low carb diet. They say that fruits must form a great part of every diet and should not be excluded. But the low carb diet says otherwise. Low carb dieters believe that the exclusion of most fruits in their diet regimen is because of the high sugar content of most fruits. A lot of commonly eaten fruits like apples, grapes, peaches and pears contain high amounts of sugar that can disadvantageous to the one on a low carb diet.

Along with carbohydrates, low carb dieters should also try to avoid consuming sugar as much as possible. This is because sugar is also a carbohydrate. The sugar in fruits is a major product of photosynthesis which is the process plants use to transform the sun’s energy into food. Sugar being a carbohydrate is a big no-no for low carb dieters. They follow a regimen of restricted carbohydrate intake in whatever form which includes fruits with high sugar content.

Low carb dieters believe that carbohydrates in any form can be fattening. Having a low carbohydrate intake will make the body burn fat instead as a primary source of energy. As the body changes gear and with the excess fat becoming the primary energy source, fat burning is accelerated and excess weight in the form of body fat is slowly burned into energy by the body.

That reaction makes the low carb diet effective in weight loss programs. They are strict in keeping the consumption of carbohydrates to the absolute minimum and that includes sugar in any form. That is why a majority of fruits are restricted from being part of a low carb diet.

But there are actually some fruits that low carb dieters are allowed to eat. These may include fruits that contain lesser amounts of sugar than most available fruits in the market. Such fruits include cherries, avocados, olives, grapefruit, and cranberries among others. But the dieter is instructed to eat these fruits in moderation in order to not disastrously affect one’s low carb diet regimen.

For fruit lovers, the low carb diet may be a diet that they just will not be able to maintain. But as with any other diet, some sacrifices should be made. It just so happens that fruits are what one should look out for in a low carb diet. But sometimes it is just a small sacrifice to make considering that a low carb diet doesn’t restrict one from consuming other major food groups like meat products, seafood and eggs among others.

Unlike other diet programs which restrict the consumption of EVERYTHING, the low carb diet takes a more, should we say, liberal stance on food consumption. Low carb diets only seek to control the intake of carbohydrates in the body to lose weight. That is just a small price to pay to lose weight.