Why Low Carb Dieters Can Eat Chicken Skin And Meat Fat

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 list-of-low-carb-food.com 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-food.com list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.