What is it?
Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet is a weight loss diet claiming it can help prevent addiction to carbohydrates while promoting weight loss. It’s mentioned how certain people can have a metabolism disorder via this addiction which when solved, can help suppress appetite and promote weight loss results.
The idea behind this diet is presented in an official book, which mentions many people have an insatiable addiction that prevents blood sugar and energy from remaining stable. It’s recommended to eat low amounts ofcarbohydrates, and making sure to introduce healthy protein sources. Our review experts have reviewed many kinds of diets, and the most effective overall was found to be the 18Shake Diet. It has a fat burning metabolism boosting diet pill and a meal replacement which can suppress appetite for hours. For more information about the 18Shake Diet, you can read about it in the link here.
Do You Know the Best Diets of 2024?
Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet Ingredients and Side Effects
The diet calls for the following:
• No carbohydrates other than vegetables during breakfast and lunch.
• Dinner allows for a meal with anything you’d like, but only high carbohydrate foods every one hour. One can indulge in a portion of cake or other similar foods.
• Diet soda and coffee are allowed but no snacking in between meals to start with.
• First two weeks: Two small meals consisting of 3 to 4 ounces of meat, chicken or fish, 2 ounces of cheese, and about 2 cups of salad or vegetables .
• After 2 weeks: Different eating plans are introduced depending on one’s own weight loss desires. This can include a snacka day.
• Drinking large amountsof water is advised.
The website discusses carbohydrate addiction:
“The word addict is associated with carbohydrate is not being used loosely”
“We believe that there is a TRIAD OF ADDICTION: that is BEHAVIOR, ENVIRONMENT, and BIOLOGY”
They fail to offer any evidence however that all carbohydrates can cause an addiction. Certain sources such as sugary foods may be unhealthy and can cause addiction, but carbohydrates also come from healthy sources such as vegetables, legumes, beans, and other foods.
The diet also allows for a reward at dinner for higher carbohydrate foods. It’s strange they allow for this while they also claim that it’s potentially dangerous to eat these kinds of foods.
You can also eat one higher carbohydrate food as long as it’s separated by an hour during dinner. This can make it easy to overeat and introduce unhealthy foods as there is no caloric limit set. The emphasized moderation, but certain foods can be high in calories or unhealthy ingredients.
Our experts have reviewed many diets and have compiled a list of the highest rated which is featured here.
The diet does not require any calorie counting which can lead to overeating if one is not careful. Not allowing for many carbohydrates of both breakfast and lunch can lead to side effects as well:
• Fatigue, brain fog, difficulty concentrating.
• Irritability, headaches, and mood swings.
It’s also suggested by the creators of this diet that it is not for everyone, they add how only those with metabolism disorders would really benefit.
MedicineNet.com has reviewed this diet and has mentioned:
“This diet is hardly a favorite of nutritionists or specialists with a medical background… abnormally high insulin levels… is a part of the medical condition known as metabolic syndrome”
They add how this issue:
“has a variety of causes – notably obesity itself “Carbohydrate addiction” has never been shown to be among them”
They debunk a major part of this diet which claims it can help those who have diabetic type of issues. John McDougall a medical doctor who has reviewed this diet also adds:
“The whole premise that we are carbohydrate Addict’smakes about as much sense as telling people they are oxygen or water Addict’s”
Therefore, the main premise behind this diet has not been proven to be truthful about how the body works. For a list of the highest rated weight loss diets, click the link here.
Getting rid of carbohydrates only for a portion of the day makes no sense as one is still receiving this supposedly harmful macronutrient.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.
Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet Quality of Ingredients
The diet does allow for certaincarbohydrates for the first 2 meals of the day, and the final meal allows for anuncontrolled caloric carbohydrate food every hour. This is a poor quality diet as it does not emphasize counting calories, and there’s no science to back up any of its claims.
It’s been described by a Dr. John McDougall as being:
“a way of tricking people into restricting food intake”
It’s not a comprehensive enough weight loss strategy as it has limited information about food intake, and it’s not based in any real science. Click the link cited for a comprehensive top ranking list of weight loss diets.
The Price and Quality of Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet
Pricing depends on the quality of foods one chooses, and the book itself is sold on Amazon.com for $7.66 currently.
As you’ll see in the “Customer Opinions of CarbohydrateAddict’s Diet”, there are many suggestions made which people mention is outdated and no longer verified. There are many issues with this die due to the claims made about carbohydrate addiction which are not true. There is no evidence to help support the main idea behind this diet.
The overall quality is poor as allowing for those who truly have a metabolic disorder to eat as they like can promote unhealthy eating behaviors. Dieters are allowed to gorge and eat potentially fattening foods which is not a proven solution for weight loss.
Business of Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet
The diet was created by a husband and wife duo, Dr. Richard F. Heller and Dr. Rachael F. Heller. Both are retired doctors who specialize in psychiatry and biology work respectively, not weight loss or nutrition.
Dr. Richard Heller was settled a $20,000 lawsuit for allowing controlled substances to be easily accessed by people.
It’s unknown what research either doctor had to do to figure out that this kind of diet would be effective for weight loss. Without any real proof, it’s impossible to determine if this diet is based in real science. They don’t offer any explanation as to how one can become addicted to carbohydrates.
To see a list of the highest rated weight loss diets, click on the link here.
EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.
Customer Opinions of Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet
The books official Amazon.com page has a total of 98 critical reviews. Featured below are some quotes from users of the diet:
“Dedicated for 5 months and nearly no loss”
“this diet eventually backfires for many of its users”
“NO WAY I could eat like this for the rest of my life which is what the book tells you have to do”
“I began to feel dizzy and disoriented about the third day until I got my reward meal”
There are many issues with users claiming that the book is outdated, and that the information given is no longer proven effective. People have experienced side effects such as fatigue, brain fog, nausea, loss of energy, mood swings, headaches, and other symptoms.
Some people mentioned how they made sure to follow the advice given, only to experience a lack of any weight loss benefits. There were also issues from people who felt that the restriction on carbohydrates is too extreme, and that it made them no longer want to continue eating the same kinds of foods as it became unsatisfying.
Click the link cited here for a list of the highest rated weight loss diets.
Conclusion - Does Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet Work?
The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet relies on the idea that certain people have a metabolic disorder that causes them to be addicted to carbohydrates. It’s claimed this is the real reason why people cannot lose weight no matter how long they try. This is not supported by any real science, and nutrition experts agree there is no evidence to support this claim. This makes sense as the creators are doctors who have no background in nutrition and health. Users of this diet also mention how they felt there wasn’t enough support, and there were issues with side effects and a lack of weight loss.
In reviewing many of the top ranked weight loss diets, our experts have found that the overall most effective for weight loss was the 18Shake Diet. It offers a meal replacement that suppresses appetite for hours, alongside a fat burning diet pill. Customers have rated them highly and there are testimonials from those who have managed to lose weight off this diet. There are also no added stimulants, artificial additives, colors, fillers, binders or any preservatives of any kind.
The 18Shake Diet is also backed by an entire 30 day money back return policy. This allows for users to try it for 30 days with no questions asked. To learn more about the benefits of the 18Shake Diet, click on the link provided here.
User Feedback
(Page 6 of 6, 108 total comments)Sallyann
I did this plan 5 years ago and lost 30 lbs. I unfortunately went on vacation and got out of control with the carbs and gain every bit back plus some. I have tried other things, eating right and I have a limitation to exercise since I have osteoarthritis, but I can still walk. I will go on this plan again. The first time I didn't even buy the book I got it from the library, but this time, I'm going to get the book and shed this weight to take the pressure off my joints. Wholeheartedly recommend it.
posted Jul 10th, 2008 9:11 amMichelle
starting this diet today hopefully it will work because I can't stay on Atkins I crave carbs I really do
posted Jul 9th, 2008 10:05 ammarybeth
I have been doing Atkins for months doing good,but I need a change. I think this diet may work better for me, Fruits and bread I always miss.One meal a day that I can enjoy with my family will be great.Good Luck to all.
posted Jun 29th, 2008 5:50 pmAnita
Started this program today . I am hopeful this one is the answer.
posted Apr 28th, 2008 1:12 pmCheryl
I tried this diet several years ago. I was a size 24W. After just two months, I had lost 40 lbs and was a size 18W. I've stayed there since. It took some getting used to, and I didn't follow the recipes... just ate differently, saving carbs for dinner. After a couple of days, my energy levels were up, I didn't experience the crash after meals, and I wasn't at all hungry or feeling deprived. I'm getting ready to start on it again.
posted Mar 9th, 2008 9:00 pmLucy
I am a carb addict. Once I started, I couldn't stop eating candy, chips, potatoes...even when I'd just finished a big meal. Just a couple days after starting the diet my cravings were gone! Before I'd jog and not lose a pound, now I stopped jogging and am losing 1 pound a week for the last month. The best part is not feeling the uncontrollable compulsion to eat and never feeling satisfied! Plus, no one even knows I'm on a diet.
posted Mar 4th, 2008 7:20 amChristineR
I am a carbohydrate addict so this diet was SO much easier for me than south beach. Having to cut out all the carbs was really hard so I enjoyed that I got to keep them in my diet, even if only a small amount. I also liked that I got to dictate when I got to eat because my schedule fluctuates so much. Definitely recommend to anyone who has a busy lifestyle and can't give them up!
Rach27
I did this diet for about 5 months. The hardest thing was eating the carbs only once a day. I believe it is harder than cutting it out all together because once those carbs hit my lips I couldn't stop! I moved to a more balanced diet.