While low-fat dieters and non-dieters may want to avoid chicken skins and
fat on meat, most "low carb" diet plans encourage low carb dieters to do the exact opposite.
The reasoning for this somewhat
surprising deviation from common
wisdom is two-fold.
The first part--as described by
low-carb dietitians--postulates that
skins and fats are unhealthy, but only
when they aren’t converted into energy.
When skins and fats aren’t converted
into energy, they raise your cholesterol,
clog your arteries, and impede weight-loss.
This is what happens when
low-fat dieters and non-dieters add
skins and meat fats to their normal diets.
Low carb dieters--in contrast--do not
consume glucose in the form of carbohydrates,
so they must get energy from somewhere
else. One place they get it from is
stored body fat; and the other place they
get it is from fat--such as skins and meat
fats--that are rerouted through an alternate
metabolic pathway to yield energy.
Not only are skins and meat fats
healthy for low carb dieters, but they
can also give them a boost in
energy that they may be lacking
as a result of their glucose-deficient
diet.
There is one other reason why skins and
fats are an important part of low
carb diets.
Skins and fats satiate the body
to prevent both cravings and
"survival-mode" hormone
secretions.
When the body is not taking
in enough calories in the form
of glucose and fat, it will convert
as many calories as it can (out
of the few you are taking in)
into the form of stored fats.
In order to prevent the
secretion of the hormones that
cause this "survival mode"
reaction, you must take in
an adequate amount of
fat--and eating skins and
meat fats is an easy way
to do that.
There is only one thing I will
add to this advice--and that
is a word of caution:
being on a low carb diet
allows you to consume skins
and fats healthfully, but it is still
important that you make sure
you are not over-consuming.
Double check with your plan
to ensure you are eating reasonable
quantities and consider getting
your cholesterol levels checked
by a physician regularly.
This article is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Before embarking on any diet or fitness plan, consult your physician.
Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.
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