Low-Carb vs Low-Fat: The Pros and Cons of Both Diets
Hey Angels and Alphas,
Most people who are trying to lose weight want to avoid foods that aren’t good for them. This can make dieting confusing, because there are so many different food groups out there, and experts disagree about which ones you should be eating more of, and which ones you should be eating less of (or not at all).
The low-carb vs low-fat debate is one of the biggest arguments in the nutrition world, so we’re going to break down the pros and cons of both diets so you can decide if one will work best for your needs.
What is a ketogenic diet?
A ketogenic diet is a very low carb, moderate protein, high fat diet. When you eat something high in carbohydrates like bread or pasta, your body converts those carbs into sugars. As those sugars enter your blood stream, the pancreas releases insulin to help regulate the sugar levels. But if you don’t eat any carbs at all, your blood sugar will likely stay stable because there are no carbs to convert into sugar.
That’s what happens when you’re on a ketogenic diet – it typically eliminates all grains (breads, pastas), starchy veggies (potatoes) and fruit.
What is a low-fat diet?
A low fat diet is a diet that restricts the intake of saturated fats, trans fats, dietary cholesterol, and foods high in calories from fat. A low fat diet typically consists of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein sources such as chicken or fish.
The pros to this type of diet are that it can help you lose weight quicker than other diets because it reduces your caloric intake. This is because it reduces the amount of fatty foods in your diet so less calories are being consumed overall. Another pro to a low fat diet is that they can help you manage or reduce other chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
What are the pros and cons of each diet?
The main difference between low fat diets and low carb diets is the level of carbohydrates. A low fat diet includes a lot more carbohydrates than a low carb diet, because it focuses on eating healthy fats. A high amount of protein in a low carb diet can also make you feel fuller for longer periods of time, which is why many people who want to lose weight choose this type of diet.
On the other hand, high amounts of saturated fats from animal products that are not used in any activity but to be digested may lead to high levels of cholesterol and contribute to heart disease. Eating less carbs could also lead to vitamin deficiencies if you’re not careful about what you’re eating.
Picking a diet that’s right for you
The first thing to consider when deciding which diet is best for you is your lifestyle. You may have a lot of work commitments that make it hard to find time for cooking at home or exercising regularly. If this is the case, then you might want to go with a low-carb diet because it’s likely that this type of diet will require less time commitment than a low-fat one (which requires regular exercise).
On the other hand, if you do have enough time in your schedule for home-cooked meals and working out, then you might be better off with a low-fat diet. This kind of diet has been shown to help people lose weight more efficiently than low carb diets.
