Did I trick you with the title? We’ve gotten so used to seeing “cut out carbs” in the last decade, you might think this post is about low-carb eating. Quite the contrary. People are often misled about carbohydrates and as a result don’t know where to place them in their eating plan, especially if they are dieting. If that sounds like you, read on because just in case you don’t know, carbs are necessary for health.

1. You need carbs. Our brains thrive on simple carbohydrates – glucose to be specific. That’s why the body breaks down carbs into glucose – so the brain can eat. So why in the world would you cut out carbs? Don’t do it. The problem people run into is that quality counts and they don’t always focus on quality when it comes to carb intake. I’ll cover that later on in this article.

2. Estimate your good carb range. The brain alone needs about 135 grams of carbohydrates a day, which you can easily get through healthy carbohydrate foods (more on that later). You then need carbs to help support your daily activities. The more active you are engaged in, the more carbs you need. Roughly, everyone fits into a 40-65% of calories range, with the exception of endurance athletes in a carbo load phase. If you’re trying to lose weight, calculate about 45%-50% carbs and go in that range.

The key to successful weight loss is making it last. According to Australian researchers, both low-carb and high-carb diets work equally well for maintaining weight loss.

The researchers also pointed out that some studies have suggested that high protein diets (low-carb) may be more effective in losing weight short-term than high carbohydrate diets. However, there is less evidence regarding which approach would be better for helping people to keep the weight off.

The study, led by Dr. Elizabeth A. Delbridge of the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Victoria Australia, divided 141 participants into groups of high protein and high carbohydrate diets for a year. The participants lost 36.4 pounds on average, and only regained about four pounds, over the following year.

There is more than one way to skin a cat. And that strange and grotesque cliche happens to apply to your weight loss approach. There are many diets that will get you to your goal weight, but not all of them will also have the added benefit of improving your mood.

According to a new study, only low-fat diets will help with long-term mood improvement.

“This study looked at one factor, and prior studies haven’t focused on psychological factors,” says Dr. Ewald Horvath, interim chairman of psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “This is a great study focusing on something very important.”

A new study from the University of South Carolina suggests that most people who maintain optimum body weight do not consume a diet low in carbohydrates.

A research team led by Dr. A. T. Merchant, an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of South Carolina, used a 2004-2005 cross-sectional survey of 4,451 Canadians aged 18 years and older. The results indicate higher carbs are associated with normal weights.

Guest Blogger Jamie VanEaton is a freelance writer making lunch–not war– when she’s not herding children, corralling pets or raising dust bunnies. You can also read her blog, The Lighter Side of Low-Carb.

You may have thought it was all about meat. And bacon. And butter.
Fear not. Low-carb (and lower-carb) lifestyles are as healthy as the attitudes of those following them, and for many results in weight loss and feelings of better health, lack of brain fog and other nagging symptoms.

Here are five reasons to consider checking out a low-carb diet plan: