Fat Burning Index

2007-11-21T07:50:00.000-08:00

Fat Burning Index is a tool that allows scientists to define potential influences of foods on lipolysis - the process of "burning" body fat for fuel. The higher the Index, the more fat your body will burn. To lose more body fat, you should eat foods with high Fat Burning Index.

Fat Burning Index concept was developed by Dr. Zilberter. It is based on a scientific formula that takes into account the food's carbohydrate, fat and protein content.

Banta Diet uses Fat Burning Index to create delicious recipes and meal plans that will help you lose fat without watching portions or counting calories, carbs, or fat.

To learn about Fat Burning Index in more detail, or to share this information with your physician, email Dr. Zilberter.

Fat Burning Rate increases as Fat Burning Index increases.

Fat Burning Rate: number of fat milligrams burnt by 1 kg of body fat in 1 minute
Fat Burning Index: shows how many times amount of fat in a food or meal exceeds the amount of protein and carbohydrate combined
Diets were same in calories and protein but different in fat and carbs. High-fat low carb diet had high Fat Burning Index and Low-fat high-carb diet had low Fat Burning Index.

Source:
Edward F. Coyle, Asker E. Jeukendrup, Matthew C. Oseto, Bradley J. Hodgkinson, and Theodore W. Zderic. Low-fat diet alters intramuscular substrates and reduces lipolysis. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 280: E391-E398, 2001; 0193-1849/01

Greek Chicken Salad Fat Burning Index 2.43

2007-08-01T04:02:00.000-07:00

Fat Burning Index of this recipe is 2.43

Ingredients

3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
2 cucumbers, chopped
2 cups crumbled feta cheese
2/3 cup sliced black olives
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cup Real mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

Instruction

In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken, cucumbers, feta cheese, olives and parsley.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, garlic, sour cream and oregano; add chicken mixture and toss. You may add one iceberg lettuce leaf per every 1/6 part of the salad. Eat as many serving as you want.

Nutrition

Calories: 3664
Fat: 324 g
Sat: 101 g
Poly: 106 g
Mono: 98 g
Carbs: 39 g
Fiber: 6 g
Protein: 155 g

Calcium (mg) 1944
Iron (mg)18.7
Sodium (mg) 6779.74
Phosphorus (mg) 2351.89
Ash (g)32.05
Vitamin A (IU) 6116.07
Vitamin C (mg)94.1560
Vitamin B-1 Thiamin (mg) 0.94
Vitamin B-2 Riboflavin (mg) 3.54
Niacine (mg)61.9319
Saturated fat (g)64.2232.22
Monounsaturated fat (g)55.1132.22
Polyunsaturated fat (g) 48.8532.22
Cholesterol (mg) 849.94

Avocado Lime Soup, Fat Burning Index 2.51

2007-01-10T04:08:00.000-08:00

To read about Fat Burning Index <-- click here

Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream
1 large ripe avocado
juice of 2 limes
1/2 large cucumber, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

Place creams, avocado, lime juice, cucumber, and green
onions in blender and blend until smooth. Add
remaining ingredients and blend briefly until cilantro
leaves are slightly chopped. Garnish with cilantro
leaves and chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition, entire recipe

Calories 1210
Protein (g)11
Fat (g) 116
Carb (g)45.33
Fiber (g)19.38
Calcium (mg) 211.37
Iron (mg) 1.7
Sodium (mg) 108
Potassium (mg) 1882
Phosphorus (mg) 296

Cheese Dessert Platters. Fat Burning Index 3.48 to 0.7

2006-10-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

Dessert gourmet cheese platter

For your platter, try goat cheeses, Rockfor, brie, Morbier, Camambè, Gorgonzola, etc.

Chunk off a bite-sized piece and eat it straight or with strawberries, avocado slices, cilantro springs, or wallnut halves.

Fat burning index of some cheeses:

Cream cheese 3.48
Neufchatel 2.43
Brie 2.41
Camembert 2.31
Cheddar 2.27
Monterey Jack 2.27
Muenster 2.25
Roquefort 2.23
Gruyere 2.17
Fontina 2.16
Colby 2.14
Blue 2.12
Edam 2.06
Brick 2.04
Gouda 1.97
Mozzarella, whole-milk 1.93
Caraway 1.92
Provolone 1.92
Feta 1.83
Swiss 1.74
Romano, grated 1.66
Ricotta, whole-milk 1.61
Parmesan, grated 1.56

Too low fat burning index

Mozzarella, part-skim 1.46
Ricotta, part-skim 1.02
Cottage cheese, creamed 1.0
Cottage cheese, dry curd 0.74
Cottage cheese, low fat (2%) 0.72
Cottage cheese, low-fat (1%) 0.7

Almond meringues Fat Burning Index 1.89

2006-10-06T05:06:00.000-07:00

Fat Burning Index of this recipe is 1.89. Click here to read what this means

Ingredients

2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup pourable sugar substitute
1 cup chopped blanched almonds
3/4 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

Beat egg whites with salt; add sugar substitute
gradually, beating until mixture is stiff. Gently fold
in almonds and almond extract.

Drop the mixture on buttered and floured baking sheet
by the teaspoon. Let stand 2 hours.

Bake at 190 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes or until
they are delicately brown in colour.

Nutrition

Calories 883.1
Protein (g) 36.59
Fat (g) 76.13
Carb (g) 27.5
Fiber (g) 9.72
Calcium (mg) 362.16
Iron (mg) 5.22
Sodium (mg) 124.05
Potassium (mg) 1183.02
Phosphorus (mg) 780.08
Vitamin C (mg) 0.8760
Vitamin B-1 Thiamin (mg) 0.23
Vitamin B-2 Riboflavin (mg) 1.28
Niacin, vitamin B-3 (mg) 4.66
Saturated Fats (g) 7.22
Monounsaturated Fats (g)49.46
Polyunsaturated Fats (g) 15.98

Chocolate Cake - Fat Burning Index 1.6

2006-09-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar equivalent
1 cup almonds, coarsly shopped
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbs. almond flour
1 Tbs. baking soda
3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

Separate egg whites from yolks. In a blender, blend the whites and sweetener. Continuing blending, add the ingredients in this order: nuts, vanilla, flour, soda, yolks, and cocoa, blend for 2 minutes more. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Nutrition facts

Fat Burning Index 1.6
Calories 1816
Protein (g)76
Fat (g) 146
Carb (g)78
Fiber (g)30.38
Monounsaturated Fats (g)88
Polyunsaturated Fats (g)28
Cholesterol (mg) 850

Strawberry chocolate cream - Fat Burning Index 2.2

2006-09-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

Strawberry chocolate cream. Fat Burning Index 2.2

Russian No-bake Cheesecake Fat Burning Index 3.7

2006-09-08T03:28:00.000-07:00

From Banta Diet

Ingredients

1.5 lb. farmers' or Ricotta cheese
1 lb. butter
1 c heavy creams
Pourable sweetener, equivalent of 2 c sugar
20 yolks of boiled eggs
1/2 t vanilla
10 bitter almonds, crushed

Instructions

Beat the cheese in a blender for several minutes or
until smooth. Ricotta requires more time to become
smooth. Gradually add 1/2 of the sweetener, creams,
and softened butter. Separately blend the rest of the
sweetener with the yolks. Add the yolk mixture to the
cheese mixture, beat for several minutes together; add
vanilla. Carefully mix in the almonds. Fold the ready
mixture in a cheese cloth bag, hang above the sink
overnight. Put in a bowl; refrigerate for at least 24
hours.

Nutrition info

Fat Burning Index = 3.7
Pro (g) 141
Fat (g)647
Carb (g)33.56-- --
Calcium (mg) 2128
Iron (mg)15
Sodium (mg) 855
Potassium (mg) 1322.65-- --
Phosphorus (mg) 2948.
Vitamin A (IU) 27190
Vitamin C (mg) 1
Vitamin B-1 Thiamin (mg) 0.72
Vitamin B-2 Riboflavin (mg) 3.86
Niacin, vitamin B-3 (mg)1.0319
Saturated fat (g) 372
Monounsaturated fat (g) 195
Polyunsaturated fat (g) 33
Cholesterol (mg) 5922

Chocolate no-bake cheesecake Fat Burning Index 1.97

2006-09-05T03:22:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 package gelatin
1 c boiling water
16 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
18 packages sweetener
2 oz unsweetened dark cocoa

Instructions

Dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water in a mixing
bowl. Stir well.

Cut the cheese into small pieces and place in the
dissolved gelatin. Add the vanilla, sweetener, and
cocoa; beat well with a mixer.

Pour into muffin cups. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Nutrition info
Fat Burning Index= 1.97

Calories 1950.06 290067.24%
Pro (g)43.9163 69.7%
Fat (g) 160.5896.67 166.11%
Carb (g)95.65-- --
Fiber (g) 0.68-- --
Calcium (mg) 549 80068.63%
Iron (mg) 6.2110 62.1%
Sodium (mg) 1734.36 200086.72%
Potassium (mg) 948.28-- --
Phosphorus (mg) 710.84 80088.86%
Ash (g) 8.06-- --
Vitamin A (IU) 6480.81 5000 129.62%
Vitamin C (mg) 1.0260 1.7%
Vitamin B-1 Thiamin (mg) 0.13 1.5 8.67%
Vitamin B-2 Riboflavin (mg) 1.22 1.771.76%
Niacin, vitamin B-3 (mg)0.7819 4.11%
H2O %18.77-- --
Saturated fat (g) 101.0332.22 313.56%
monoF (g)45.3832.22 140.84%
Polyunsaturated fat (g) 5.8332.2218.09%
Chol (mg)501.8 300 167.27%

Sunflower Bread Fat Burning Index = 2.76

2006-08-31T03:06:00.000-07:00

2 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sunflower oil
1 cup nut flour
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup unprocessed bran

Beat eggs, cream and vanilla. Melt butter (oil) and
add to cream. Mix dry ingredients. Add wet mixture to
dry. Bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees F. Check with a
toothpick

It is easy to make your own nut flower of almonds
(good essential fatty acids source) or macadamia (good
fat-to-carb ratio.) Just mill them in a coffee
grinder or food processor. However, there are online
stores that sell it.

Calories 3100.84 1900 163.20%
Protein (g)56.81 50 113.62%
Fat (g) 304.38 63.33 480.63%
Carb (g)74.62-- --
Fiber (g) 27.1-- --

Philadelphia "cheesecake" - Fat Burning Index 2.67

2006-08-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

For the Crust:

1 cup unskinned almonds
1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
1/4 to 1/2 cup Splenda (to taste)
1/4 cup melted butter

Instructions

Grind the almonds in the food processor until they are
like coarse cornmeal. Add the coconut and Splenda and
pulse until thoroughly combined. Add the melted butter
and process until mixture begins to clump. Press the
mixture into a 9" pie plate or in the bottom of a
springform pan. Bake at 350 for 10 to 15 minutes, util
it begins to brown just a bit. Remove from the oven
and cool.

For the "cheesecake"

One 8 ounce container of Light Cool Whip, thawed.
2 8 ounce packages of cream cheese at room
temperature.
1/3 cup Splenda
2 or 3 drops coconut extract (optional)

Instructions

Beat the cream cheese and Splenda until fluffy. Add
the coconut extract and mix well. Gently stir in the
Cool Whip. Put the filling in the pie shell and chill
for 3 hours.

Nutrition, entire recipe

Calories 4656
Pro (g) 95
Fat (g) 446
Carb (g)114.6
Fiber (g)43.43
Calcium (mg) 1238
Iron (mg)17
Sodium (mg) 2170
Potassium (mg) 3166
Phosphorus (mg) 2099
Vitamin A (IU) 10277
Vitamin C (mg) 3
Vitamin B-1 Thiamin (mg) 0.71
Vitamin B-2 Riboflavin (mg) 2.94
Niacin, vitamin B-3 (mg)8
Saturated fat (g) 235
Monounsaturated fat (g) 152
Polyunsaturated fat (g) 35
Chol (mg)795

Banta Diet Breakfast Recipes

2006-08-04T05:19:00.000-07:00

Banta Diet Breakfast Recipes

1. Bacon and Cheese Puff Fat Burning Index = 3.01

2. Sunflower Bread Fat Burning Index = 2.76

3. Zucchini Omelette Fat Burning Index = 2.50

4. Apple-Brie Omelette Fat Burning Index = 2.34

5. Bran pancakes Fat Burning Index = 2.63

6. Macadamia coconut pancakes Fat Burning Index = 2.16

7. Breakfast muffins Fat Burning Index = 1.63,
With a pat of butter each, Fat Burning Index = 2.11

8. Homestead Breakfast Fat Burning Index = 1.75

9. Salmon omelette Fat Burning Index = 1.78

10. Devilled Eggs (basic) Fat Burning INdex = 1.62,
With mayo (depending on quantities) above 2.3

51. Cheesy Grits Casserole Fat Burning Index = 1.50

52. High-fiber Crackers Fat Burning Index = 1.71

53. Low carb Crepes Fat Burning Index = 1.93

55. Pecan not/Cereal Fat Burning Index = 2.01

49. Pancakes with Smoked Salmon Fat Burning Index = 1.66

61. Almond Granola Fat Burning Index: 2.89

62. Scrambled Eggs Fat Burning Index: 2.94

54. Rye-flavored slicing bread Fat Burning Index = 1.96

Fat Burning Index Breakfast Recipe: Bacon and Cheese Puff

2006-07-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

Bacon and Cheese Puff Fat Burning Index = 3.01

8 slices bacon
2 medium onions, sliced
12 slices sunflower bread (see recipe **)
1/2 pound Swiss cheese, shredded
8 eggs
4 cups heavy creams
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
red pepper sauce to taste

Cook bacon until crisp; drain and crumble. In bacon
drippings cook onions. Arrange half the bread slices
in a single layer in bottom of greased casserole.
Sprinkle with half the crumbled bacon, onions and
cheese.

Combine remaining ingredients; pour over top layer in
pan. Bake at 375 degrees until top is puffed.

Calories 6572.59
Protein (g) 164.8663 261.68%
Fat (g) 633.0196.67 654.82%
Carb (g)67.21
Fiber (g) 5.76
Calcium (mg) 3084.78 800385.6%
Iron (mg) 8.5110 85.1%
Sodium (mg) 3683.43 2000 184.17%
Potassium (mg) 2426.42
Phosphorus (mg) 3216.59 800 402.07%
Vitamin A (IU) 18568.42 5000 371.37%
Vitamin C (mg)92.2160 153.68%
Vitamin B-1 or
Thiamin (mg) 1.76 1.5 117.33%
Vitamin B-2 or
Riboflavin (mg) 4.3 1.7 252.94%
Niacin or
Vitamin B-3 (mg) 9.791951.53%
Saturated Fats (g) 338.5432.22 1050.71%
Monounsaturated Fats (g) 214.45 32.22 665.58%
Polyunsaturated Fats (g) 41.532.22 128.80%
Cholesterol (mg) 3427.53 300 1142.51%

Fat Burning Index Diet Sample Dinner

2006-06-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

Menu

1) Avocado Soup
2) Tunisian Spiced Fish
3) Chocolate no-bake cheesecake

Avocado Soup

Fat Burning Index: 2.51
3 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons tarragon leaves
1 teaspoon salt
3 California Avocados
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Cayenne pepper to taste
Sour cream

Combine cream, tarragon, and salt; heat until liquid
just begins to simmer. Puree avocado and lemon juice
until smooth. When cream is ready, whisk avocado
mixture into milk mixture. Stir in cayenne. Serve with
sour cream.

Tunisian Spiced Fish

Fat Burning Index: 2.13
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp coriander seeds
1/2 tsp dried hot pepper flakes
1/2 cup flaxseed
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 lbs salmon or tuna filet
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium onion, sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 cup fish stock
1/2 cup olive oil
parsley for garnish

On medium heat, roast the seeds, flakes and salt for
2-3 minutes. Rub the spices on the fish. Let stand 10
minutes.

Place the fish in one layer into an oven-safe baking
sheet; pour the oil over. Add garlic, onions and
tomato. Pour over fish stock. Bake in a preheated 400
degree for 20-30 minutes.

Chocolate no-bake cheesecake

Fat Burning Index: 1.97
1 package gelatin
1 c boiling water
16 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
18 packages sweetener
2 oz unsweetened dark cocoa

Dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water in a mixing
bowl. Stir well.

Cut the cheese into small pieces and place in the
dissolved gelatin. Add the vanilla, sweetener, and
cocoa; beat well with a mixer.

Pour into muffin cups. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Fat Burning Index Diet Sample Lunch

2006-06-26T03:44:00.000-07:00

The Fat Burning Index Diet - Sample Lunch Menu

1) Greek Tofu Salad
2) Blueberries with heavy cream

Greek Tofu Salad
Fat Burning Index: 2.28
1 package Firm Tofu drained and cubed
1 oz sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, including the oil
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
12 olives
1 Tbsp chopped red onion
1/2 cup diced cucumber
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Chop the tomatoes. Mix oil, oregano, olive oil, and red wine vinegar, olives, and onion in a bowl. Add the tofu and mix; add cucumber, parsley, salt and pepper; toss.

Blueberries with heavy cream (whipped, optional)
Fat Burning Index: 3.21
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup blueberries
(artificial sweeteners are allowed under certain circumstances)

Fat Burning Index Diet Diet Sample Breakfast

2006-06-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

1) Bacon and Cheese Puff
2) Coffee or green tea with heavy cream

Bacon and Cheese Puff

Fat Burning Index: 3.01

8 slices bacon
2 medium onions, sliced
12 slices sunflower bread (recipe included)
1/2 pound Swiss cheese, shredded
8 eggs
4 cups heavy creams
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
red pepper sauce to taste

Cook bacon until crisp; drain and crumble. Cook the onions in leftover bacon grease. Arrange half the bread slices in a single layer in bottom of greased casserole. Sprinkle with half of each: crumbled bacon, onions and cheese.

Combine remaining ingredients; pour over top layer in pan. Bake at 375 degrees until top is puffed.

European Paradox Can Help You

2006-06-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

European paradox is a paradox only on the surface. Foods that are naturally high in fat such as best European brands of cheeses, have higher Fat Burning Index. These foods shift metabolism toward fat-utilizing biochemical pathway and away from the carbohydrate pathway.

Also, full-fat foods reduce carb absorption and this further increases Fat Burning Index.

Every American tourist that returned from Europe admits that Europeans are much thinner than Americans.

Michael Fumento wrote in his book "The Fat of the Land" that the average North American is more than 16 pounds heavier than the average Northern European and that the US has almost three times as many grossly obese people as Sweden. "Yet by our [American] standards they are doing everything wrong," he added.

Let's look at some statistical data.

*Obesity() Trends**
	Year	% Male	% Female
Europe	1961	7 %
USA	1961	13 %
Sweden	1988/89	5.3	9.1
USA	1988/89	32	33.5
Europe	Currently	21.0	20.8
USA	Currently	64	62
European teenagers	Currently	6.5	6.8
USA teenagers	Currently	13.9	15.1

How could it be? The latest conclusion: Europeans serve smaller portions in the restaurants -- so, the dietitians concluded, such is the Europeans' habit.

The most important question, however, remains unanswered: Why do Europeans have such a habit?

Dr. Zilberter suggests that the smaller European portions are the result of higher fat consumption leading to higher Fat Burning Index of European meals and resulting in decreased appetite.

Banta Diet program uses high Fat Burning Index foods and recipes to free you from hunger, cravings, and counting fats, carbs, or calories. The portions become smaller naturally.

* Obesity is defined in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI describs the relationship between body weight and height. Some dietitians use BMI as a measure of body fat.

Estonian cabbage soup. Fat Burning Index 2.41

2006-06-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

Fat Burning Index = 2.41*

(Rich in Fiber, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Phosphorus, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Thiamine, Monounsaturated fat.)

Ingredients

Heavy cream 3 c
Water 1 c
Cabbage 1 head, chopped
Carrots 2, shredded
Zucchini 1 medium, cubed
Soy flour 1 T
Baby dill 2 T chopped
Parsley root 1, chopped
Butter by taste

Instructions

In a soup pan, boil the cabbage and carrots until half soft. Add saltby taste, zucchini, and parsley root. In a mixing bowl, beat the flour withcream. Slowly pour the mixture into the boiling soup stirring permanently. Serve with butter and dill.

_________
* To be a fat burning food, it should have Fat burning Index above 1.5. These foods don't require counting carb grams or portion control even on a low carb diet

What is the Fat Burning Index ?

2006-06-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

What is the Fat Burning Index ^TM Diet?

Our diet is a flexible user-friendly ketogenic diet based on the fat burning capacity of foods having the proper combination of carb, fat, and protein.

The Fat Burning Index Diet is first of all a low carb diet. What does it mean?

Basic Facts about Carbs, Fat, and Protein-reduced Diets

o Low-calorie diets burn both fat and muscle.
o Low-fat diets prevent fat depositing but also fat burning.
o Low-carb diets preserve muscle while burning the body's fat for fuel.

The Body's Fuel

What can the body use for fuel? Isn't it the mixture of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, as we were taught in a middle school? Normally it is, but there are some peculiarities in using and storing every component of the mixture:

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate fuel is the one being digested, stored and used, quickly and easily. This is why the body's metabolic system always prefers to deal with this fuel.

When taken in excess, carbs are first stored in the liver and muscles. These stores are very limited in their ability to carry glycogen as a stored fuel. There's only as much energy stores in these depots as to survive a day, approximately 750 Kcal. After the carb depots are filled, all excess carbs are transformed into fat and stored in the fat depots. Fat stores in the body are huge compared to carb stores. Even in a person with a normal percentage of body fat, fat tissue contains enough calories to survive months of starvation. Obese people carry up to a year's supply of fat fuel.

Proteins

As I stated earlier, carbohydrate is the preferred fuel for all organs of the body. The heart, however, is less discriminate and readily uses any fuel, but only if carbs are present in sufficient quantities. When there's not enough carbs coming in with food, the body manages to produce its own carbohydrates out of protein that it takes either from food or from muscle tissue. This is why calorie-restricted diets burn not only fat but also muscle.

To prevent this undesirable condition, low-fat and calorie-restricted diets should include sufficient carb and protein, and low-carb diets should include sufficient fat and protein.
Here we come to the very core of low-carb versus high-carb dieting: High-carb diet proponents argue that carbohydrates preserve muscle protein and prevent fat deposition. Is this true?
Yes. But this is not the complete truth. While low-fat diets prevent further depositing of fat, they also prevent the existent adipose tissue from being used for fuel. They preserve muscle but they preserve fat as well. High-carb diets preserve fat simply because the body prefers to use carbs for fuel and when there are plenty of carbs, there's just no need to burn body's fat.

Carbs and Fats

The combination of a high-carb diet, unlimited calorie intake and physical inactivity causes the excess calories from carbs to be converted into fat and immediately be deposited. Thus, many high-carb diets incorporate calorie limitation and appetite-curbing methods, from appetite suppressants to behavioral modification.

So What is a Low-carb Diet?

A low-carbohydrate (low-carb) diet is a diet that allows less than 100 grams of carbohydrates in a daily ration. Some low-carb diets are very restrictive, not only in carbohydrate amount but also in the amount of protein.

Carbohydrate allowance in different low-carb diets varies between 20 grams (or less) to 100 grams. Some diets claim that they are low-carb while allowing more than 100 grams of carbohydrate per day, but these are really carbohydrate-reduced diets and they work differently.

What does someone on a low-carb diet eat?

Most low-carb diets allow meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, butter, oils and nuts. Green vegetables are allowed, but it is advised to count carbohydrate content in them. Some diary products other than milk are also allowed in limited quantities. Fat-free products, fruits, grains, legumes and starches are not allowed.

Why do low-carb diets work?

It is believed that low-carb diets work because when there's not enough carbohydrate fuel, the body adjusts to using fat for fuel. It is important that while burning the body's fat, low-carb diet preserves muscles because it provides sufficient amounts of protein.
Are low-carb diets dangerous?

Many nutritionists warn that these diets can be dangerous, but there is no clinical evidence against them. The Durham V.A. Medical Center in North Carolina conducted a clinically controlled study of one of the low-carb diets (Atkins). The results concluded that the diet is safe.

How does it compare to other diets?

There are three general diet groups on the market:

o low-calorie;
o low-fat; and
o low-carb.

Any one of them may be good for one person, but worthless or bad for another. Low-fat diets appear to be successful as a long-term regimen for physically active individuals, for those with few extra pounds to lose and those mostly concerned about maintaining a healthy weight. There was a trend of using low-fat diets to improve blood cholesterol and decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases, but recent clinical data questioned this approach.

Low-calorie diets require self-discipline and, in many cases, support and guidance. One example is the Weight Watchers weight-loss program that has attracted millions of dieters over decades.

Why are low-carb diets so popular?

A part of their popularity can be explained by the fact that low-carb diets curb appetite, so it is easy to stay on the diet and even make it a lifestyle. The negative side of these diets is that they can not be considered balanced. Dieters are usually advised to take supplements to ensure an adequate nutrient intake.

It's very important to understand how these diets work and what you can expect from each of them; and to be able to then choose a diet that is best for you.
Fortunately, the mechanisms of carbohydrates working as primary fuel for just about any body have been studied extensively and are well understood.

What is the Ketogenic Diet?

The Ketogenic Diet consists of high-fat, low-protein and low-carbohydrate intake. It is a stringent, mathematically calculated diet high in fat, and low in protein and carbohydrates that, when followed conscientiously, produces a by-product called ketones. The diet has been in existence since the 1920s, when it has been considered a breakthrough in treatment of intractable childhood epilepsy but was usurped by synthetic medications in the 1950s. "The reintroduction of the Ketogenic diet is a great opportunity for registered dieticians to play a pivotal role in offering hope in previously hopeless cases." (Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 1996, Vol 96, No11, 1134-1135)

The diet can be used as a treatment for diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinism, autism, obesity, epilepsy and other serious medical conditions, including disappearance of gallbladder stones (Journal of Pediatrics, 117(5):743-5, 1990 Nov.) and morbid obesity (Therapeutische Umschau, 46(5):297-308, 1989 May.)

The Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins have set up a way to induce the effects of starvation by feeding the patient large quantities of fat and limiting protein and carbohydrates. Dr. Raymond Chang, a Scottish Rite neurologist, says the diet is "a controlled fast."

All-you-can Eat Sundae Recipe

2006-06-05T08:22:00.000-07:00

Ricotta Romanoff Sundae

With Fat burning index 1.59, you can eat any amount of this dessert!

Ingredients

1/2 cup strawberries, cut into quarters
3/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 teaspoons sugar substitute
1/4 cup sliced strawberries
1.5 cup full-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 tablespoon pistachios
Mint leaves, for garnish

Instructions

In a blender or food processor, combine the quartered strawberries, orange peel, and sugar substitute and blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Gently stir in the sliced strawberries. Cover and chill.

When ready to serve, evenly divide the ricotta among 2 serving bowls. Pour equal amounts of the strawberry mixture over the ricotta, then sprinkle with the pistachios. Garnish with the mint leaves.

Nutritional Information:

220 calories
39 g total fat
15 g carbohydrate
15 g protein
2 g fiber
160 mg sodium