Why Low Carb Dieters Can Eat Chicken Skin And Meat Fat

While low-fat dieters and non-dieters may want to avoid chicken skins andfat on meat, most "low carb" diet plans encourage low carb dieters to do the exact opposite.

The reasoning for this somewhatsurprising deviation from commonwisdom is two-fold.

The first part--as described bylow-carb dietitians--postulates that skins and fats are unhealthy, but onlywhen they aren't converted into energy.

When skins and fats aren't convertedinto energy, they raise your cholesterol,clog your arteries, and impede weight-loss.This is what happens whenlow-fat dieters and non-dieters addskins and meat fats to their normal diets.

Low carb dieters--in contrast--do notconsume 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 theyget it is from fat--such as skins and meatfats--that are rerouted through an alternatemetabolic pathway to yield energy.

Not only are skins and meat fatshealthy for low carb dieters, but theycan also give them a boost inenergy that they may be lackingas a result of their glucose-deficientdiet.

There is one other reason why skins andfats are an important part of low carb diets.

Skins and fats satiate the bodyto prevent both cravings and"survival-mode" hormone secretions.

When the body is not takingin enough calories in the formof glucose and fat, it will convertas many calories as it can (outof the few you are taking in) into the form of stored fats.

In order to prevent thesecretion of the hormones thatcause this "survival mode" reaction, you must take inan adequate amount offat--and eating skins andmeat fats is an easy wayto do that.

There is only one thing I willadd to this advice--and thatis a word of caution:being on a low carb dietallows you to consume skinsand fats healthfully, but it is stillimportant that you make sureyou are not over-consuming.Double check with your planto ensure you are eating reasonablequantities and consider gettingyour cholesterol levels checkedby 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.