These diets are popular because people believe that if you eat less fat you will gain less weight. Makes sense doesn’t it? After all, fat is very calorie dense.
Before beginning a diet like this remember the following::
Not all fats are created equal
Not all fats are bad; there are good fats and bad fats
Here’s what I mean:
Bad Fats
“Bad” fats fall into one of two groups: saturated fat or trans- fat. Research seems to indicate that a link exists between saturated fats and heart disease. Saturated fats and trans fats are the types of fat that raise your cholesterol levels. These fats exists in diets that are high in animal fats. This is why the Atkins and low carb diets aren’t usually the best type of diets.
Although Atkins had found no increase in cholesterol levels using his diet, the medical community has not determined the long-term effects of this weight loss system. Diets high in saturated (animal) fats have been linked to certain cancers.
If your cholesterol is high, fats will build-up on walls restricting blood flow to your heart and your body. This results in your heart having to work much harder to push the blood through your body.
Your heart, because it has to work so much harder, may become larger which cold lead to angina which is also known as enlargement of the heart. High blood pressure can result in kidney damage and damage to smaller capillaries in your eyes. Damaging the capillaries in your eyes can lead to the loss of eyesight and possible blindness if the blood pressure is not controlled.
One of the worst, most damaging fats is trans fats.. Fats or oils that have partial hydrogenation are more than likely to be trans fatty. Partially hydrogenated oils lower the levels of healthy cholesterol (HDL
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