Can a low carbohydrate diet help me lose weight?

Recent research suggests that if you want to lose weight, you're better off on a low-carb diet than a low-fat diet. When people on low-carb diets have been compared head-to-head with those on low-fat diets, the low-carb dieters typically scored significantly better on markers of heart disease, including both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides.

The key idea in all of this is that your body makes fat from carbohydrates. It works like this: when you eat carbs (particularly starches and sugar), your blood sugar level rises. This triggers the release of insulin, which, in turn, signals the liver to start converting excess blood sugar to triglycerides, or fat.

So what's the bottom line? If you're trying to lose weight, then I think a low-carb approach makes sense, combined, of course, with exercise. If you're already at a good weight and are otherwise healthy, then stay away from processed foods and unnecessary carbs, but relax and eat what you want with moderation.

Studies show that only 10% of people who lose weight do so following a low-carb diet, and low-carb dieters consume more overall calories, more calories from fat, and more calories from saturated fat. Cutting fat is much more effective than cutting carbs.