The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet dates back to 1993 when it was created by Richard Heller, M.D. and Racher Heller, M.D. Weight loss books that promote this diet are among the bestselling books in the diet industry.
The Premise
The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet, or CAD, promotes the belief that most overweight and obese individuals have an addiction to carbs. The Hellers also believe that a large number of people are unable to properly metabolize carbohydrates and this causes a disruption to your insulin levels. When your insulin levels are constantly on the rise, you begin to crave certain foods (usually foods rich in carbohydrates). If your body cannot metabolize insulin properly, it could also be converting the excess insulin into fat deposits. The CAD seeks to help you monitor your insulin levels by teaching you to eat a well-balanced diet.
The Diet
The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet restricts the carbs in your diet to help you fight the addiction. The first two weeks of the diet are perhaps the most restrictive phase. For two whole weeks, you are required to eat only certain foods. These include eggs, low-fat dairy, poultry and other lean meat, fish, shellfish, healthy fats and salads made from fresh vegetables. If you’re someone who likes to end a meal with a treat, the CAD also features some low-carbohydrate desserts that you can try.
The diet promotes the consumption of three meals a day. Both your breakfast and lunch must be high in protein. These protein sources should be combined with vegetables that have a low glycemic level. For instance, breakfast can be an omelet with mushrooms and bell peppers. For lunch, you can have a romaine lettuce salad with some grilled chicken breast. Dinner is considered to be the “reward” meal under the CAD. Even though you are allowed to eat anything you want, make sure you eat in less than one hour.
What to Get Excited Over
Even though it seeks to eliminate your addiction to carbohydrates, the Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet still allows you to consume a controlled amount of carbs on a daily basis. This means that you don’t have to completely eliminate your favorite foods. The CAD not only helps with weight loss but it also helps improve your overall health. Regular consumption of processed carbohydrates is directly linked to obesity, diabetes and other health conditions. When you cut down the carbs in your diet, you are also cutting down the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Things To Consider
One of the aspects of the diet that perhaps needs more work is the dinner or “reward” meal. Since you are allowed to eat what you wish, you can easily turn each dinner time into an hour-long carbohydrate food fest. This can do even more harm to your health. The CAD also needs to be followed on a long-term basis if you wish to keep the weight off permanently.
The Verdict
The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet should be considered as a guideline in changing your eating habits and lifestyle. You need to learn to cut down the unhealthy carbohydrates in your long-term diet if you wish to maintain the weight loss and improve your health.
