Diet Plans And Menus - The Low Carb Diet by Levi Reiss

The Low Carb Diet makes you burn calories by exercising. Its program objectives include reinforcing your muscles and building your endurance. Eat according to your body's needs. Your body requires water, fiber, proteins, essential fatty acids, natural glucides, and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Because glucide abuse leads to weight gain, the Low Carb Diet proposes stringent limits. The strict version of the diet calls for 10 to 30 grams (about a third of an ounce to an ounce) daily. The moderate version calls for 30 to 50 grams daily. Here are some of the diet principles.

This diet lasts four weeks. Be sure to eat foods whose glycemic index is low, mostly fruits and vegetables. Augment your fiber consumption to 30 grams daily. Eat proteins; they enable your body to conserve its muscle mass as you lose weight. The more protein that you eat, the less hungry you will be. Eat as much animal protein as vegetable protein but don't eat meat seven days a week. Don't eat more than one egg a day. Use olive, walnut, or linseed oil instead of butter for cooking. Eat fatty fish twice a week. Enjoy two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily. It is suggested to consume a plate of raw vegetables, a glass of vegetable juice, and a portion of steamed vegetables every day. Practice an endurance sport such as walking, speed walking, bicycling, or swimming. It's best to do so in the morning before breakfast.

One advantage of the Low Carb Diet is its focus on exercise. The absence of sugar makes this diet hard to follow for many people. It tends to be monotonous. The low level of calories stops many people from playing a sport because they are short on energy.

Here are two sample menus:

Menu 1

Breakfast: 2 yogurts. 100 grams of red fruit. Tea.

Lunch: A green salad with shallots. A turkey schnitzel. Tomatoes provencales.

Supper: Lentil soup. Mixed vegetables. An orange.

Menu 2

Breakfast: Two plain yogurts mixed with a bowl of strawberries.

Lunch: A green salad. A chicken leg. As much zucchini and carrots as you want. An apple.

Supper: A plate of celeriac. Mussels with tomatoes. A soy dessert.

Some of the information in this article comes from a fascinating new book, La Bible des Regimes, written by Jenny de Jonquieres and published by Amerik Media. Her book describes over 80 diets and weight reduction programs. Each diet is presented with 5 menu plans, a detailed discussion of its advantages and disadvantages, and a whole lot more. La Bible des Regimes is available only in French at present.