The Low-Carbohydrate Diet
Meals
Low-carbohydrate diets or low-carb diets are dietary programs
that restrict carbohydrate consumption usually for weight
control or for the treatment of obesity. Foods high in
digestible carbohydrates (e.g. bread, pasta) are limited or
replaced with foods containing a higher percentage of proteins
and fats (e.g., meat, soy products) and often other foods low
in carbohydrates (e.g., green leafy vegetables).
The American Academy of Family Physicians provides the
following definition of low-carbohydrate diets.
Low-carbohydrate diets restrict caloric intake by reducing
the consumption of carbohydrates to 20 to 60 g per day
(typically less than 20 percent of the daily caloric intake).
The consumption of protein and fat is increased to compensate
for part of the calories that formerly came from
carbohydrates
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