Current trends and statistics show that people are making healthier decisions at the grocery store. In fact, according to a recent survey by the Grocery Manufacturers of America, “73 percent of primary grocery shoppers reported they were buying more nutritious and healthy foods and beverages than in the past.”

Also, check out: Should You Opt for the Gluten-Free Diet?

A major reason for this shift is a health consciousness in America, with millions of people looking to lose weight and get into shape. However, says nutrition expert Sherry Torkos, “consumers are frustrated with their lack of success with many of the fad diets that simply don’t work. Consumers are also becoming better educated about how to make food choices by using tools such as the glycemic index (GI), which is a ranking of food based on the rate of carbohydrate absorption they trigger.”

Carbohydrates are staples of the American diet. In fact, most Americans get about half of their calories from carbohydrates. However, simple carbohydrates such as potatoes, white bread and pasta are rapidly digested and ratio blood glucose to high levels. Fortunately, there may be a way to lower the GI of carb-rich foods by taking a supplement containing an extract of the white bean.

“The GI of white bread was significantly decreased by the addition of 3,000 milligrams of the Phase 2 brand white bean extract in powder form. At that dose, the GI was reduced by 20.23 points, or 39.07 percent,” says Jay Udani, M.D., medical director, Pacific West Research.

Though consumers have lowered their fat intake, experts agree that excess carbohydrate consumption remains a problem. Fat calories removed from the diet are usually replaced by even more troublesome carbohydrate calories, meaning increased consumption of high-GI foods. This sort of diet is considered a primary factor for “diabesity,” or type 2 diabetes brought on by being obese. Besides diabetes, overweight and obese individuals are at an increased risk for numerous other physical ailments, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

“Consumers should steer towards the low-glycemic index foods, such as whole grains, most fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes because they digest more slowly and don’t cause spikes in blood glucose and insulin levels,” adds Torkos.

Many people are opting for the gluten-free diet in order to ensure that they are able to lose weight as well as increase the energy levels. While some of the people are allergic to gluten but many people are voluntarily opting for the gluten-free diet. The question which remains is if you’re not allergic to gluten, should you opt for the gluten-free diet.

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Before you make this decision, it is important for you to take into account the few factors. Only once you are able to take into account these factors, you will be able to decide easily whether you should opt for the gluten-free diet or not.

1 Basic reason:
You need to keep in mind that there are many weight loss programs and diets which you can follow. You should only opt for the gluten-free diet when you’re gluten intolerant. According to some stats, only 1% of the population is gluten intolerant. That is why, if you are opting for the gluten-free diet in order to lose weight, you have to think once again.

2 Most of the foodstuffs consist of gluten:
You need to keep in mind that many foodstuffs which you consume on a regular basis consist of gluten. This includes wheat as well as many other grains as well. Additionally, many condiments and spices also include gluten. Also, energy bars and ice creams also include gluten. Thus, whenever you’re looking at the foodstuffs which you cannot consume when you’re on the gluten-free diet, you will realize that there is quite a long list. This is one of the main problems when you’re opting for the gluten-free diet.

3 Eliminating a lot of unhealthy food:
When you are opting for the gluten-free diet, at the same point in time you will be able to eliminate a lot of unhealthy foodstuffs as well. You need to keep in mind that along with that, you will have to eliminate many normal foodstuffs as well. Only when you’re ready for that, you can look forward to the gluten-free diet.

Thus, instead of just following the trend, you have to find out as much information as you can about the gluten-free diet. Once you are able to do that, you will realize that it is not as easy as it sounds. In many of the cases, you will find that there are other diet plans which you can use in order to lose weight more effectively rather than the gluten-free diet.

The ketogenic diet has become quite popular in the last few months. The Internet has been taken aback by the ketogenic diet. Many of the individuals are posting positive results of the ketogenic diet. However, before opting for the ketogenic diet, it is important for you to look into a few factors. Only once you are able to look into these factors, you will be able to understand whether you should opt for the ketogenic diets or not.

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1. Cutting back on carbohydrates really hard:
When you’re looking to opt for the ketogenic diet, one of the main things which you have to always keep in mind is that you will have to cut down on the carbohydrates really hard. The reason for the fat deposit is the carbohydrates. That is why you will be significantly increasing the fat content in your diet when you are consuming carbs. This means that you will have to eliminate many foodstuffs which you currently like from your diet. These will include fruits as well as vegetables and even grains.

2. Limiting the protein:
Along with that, you will have to limit the protein as well. Ideally, when you’re following the ketogenic diet, the quantity of protein is less than 20% of the total calories which you consume throughout the day. That is why essentially you are just consuming a diet which is rich in fats.

3. Increased fat content has its own risks:
Even though, the ketogenic diet states that the fat will be the point of producing energy by the biological the truth is that, when you’re consuming more and more quantity of fat, it can result in cardiovascular problems as well. That is why you have to consult your doctor in advance. Only when the doctor permits you to opt for the ketogenic diet, you can actually think about going ahead to opt for it. You have to always ensure that when you are opting for the ketogenic diet, it is important to understand that you will be consuming fat consistently.

Thus, before getting excited about the ketogenic diet, it is important for you to look into these 3 factors. Only when you are able to weigh in these 3 factors, you will be able to decide whether you should opt for the ketogenic diet or not. You have to be pretty careful with the ketogenic diet and opt for it only when you’re sure it is completely safe for your health.