Weight Loss & Diet Plans

Diet Review: The Carb Lovers Diet

Goodbye, low-carb diets. For the legions of dieters that have been scared away from carbs, The Carb Lovers Diet puts the right carbs back on the table where they belong - as part of a healthy diet.

Carbs are not the enemy. They are your body’s preferred form of fuel and if you choose them carefully, they can also help you shed pounds.

The Carb Lovers Diet is a healthy diet plan, controlled in calories and emphasizing healthy carbs.

Adding the right carbs back into your diet may be exactly what you need to feel full, increase energy, and lose weight. But convincing Americans that carbs are good is not an easy task.

“We are brainwashed against carbs. But it is the wrong message," says Frances Largeman-Roth, RD, coauthor of The Carb Lovers Diet and senior food and nutrition editor of Health Magazine.

"Carbs are good for you if you choose the right ones and control the portions - carbs rich in resistant starch may be the magic bullet in weight loss," Largeman-Roth says.

What Is Resistant Starch?

Resistant starch is a type of carbohydrate that resists digestion in the small intestine, makes you feel full, and helps burn more fat, says Largeman-Roth. Studies show it can help curb cravings, control blood sugar levels, and boost metabolism, she says.

The Carb Lovers Diet is a novel approach to eating healthfully that promises to help you shed up to 8 pounds in 30 days using normal, healthy foods along with "carb stars" rich in ingredient-resistant starch. A section on exercise reinforces the importance of regular physical activity along with the diet plan.

The Carb Lovers Diet: What You Can Eat

No foods groups are eliminated. All foods, in moderation, can be incorporated into the plan - even potato chips, chocolate, and wine. Most of the foods recommended are natural, unprocessed foods rich in nutrients.

To increase the amount of resistant starch in your diet, The Carb Lovers Diet recommends choosing at least one "carb star" food at every meal. Examples include green bananas, beans, lentils, oatmeal, and brown rice.

You can make substitutions to fit the plan to your personal preferences.

Make your own meal choices or choose from one of five options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All of the meals add up to at least 10 grams of resistant starch per day.

About a quarter of each meal should come from a carb star. The rest should be lean meat, low-fat dairy, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables.

Once weekly, you can have a treat of chocolate, apple pie, 2 light beers, or 2 glasses of wine. Once daily, take a multivitamin plus 200 mg calcium supplements.

Portion size is a key to staying within the plan's calorie budgets.

The diet also includes 75 family-friendly recipes and a dining out guide, maintenance plan, recommended frozen meals, and best foods to stock in your kitchen.