Do Low Fat Diets Really Work?

For a long time, people thought fat was the enemy, prompting the proliferation of low fat diets. Low fat diets are grounded in the idea that eating low fat will result in you taking in fewer calories, resultng in weight loss. Because many fats are linked to health problems, nutritionists demonized fats as a whole.

High fat foods are high calorie foods, which is why (in theory) eating low fat should help you lose weight. The problem is that many high fat foods are good for you, since some types of fats are good, and many low fat foods are horrible for you, leading you to crave more. For instance, consider the cocktail, which is fat free but packed with calories due to the high sugar content.

If everyone who followed a low fat diet ate fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, it would be possible to see success. The problem with this is that many foods that are low in fat are also high in sugar, and sugar triggers the aforementioned insulin problem. Unfortunately, most of us need the satisfaction of at least some high fat food in our diets, just to stave off cravings. The other problem with most low fat diets is they ignore the need for calorie control, and too many calories--no matter what kind of calories--results in fuel stored as fat.

What is the healthiest wasy to diet? Try to eat low fat foods that are also low in simple carbs, but supplement your diet with healthy fats such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat, the fats that contain Omega 3 and 6 acids. You might want to start with a low fat diet, but add in small amounts of salmon, nuts, olive oil, tuna, and avocados, all of which are packed with healthy fats.

Make sure you choose a diet plan that is based on calorie control, exercise, and wise menu planning. If you do choose a low fat diet plan, stay away from high sugar items, and emphasize high protein and high fiber foods.