Can Someone Who Eats Clean Also Go Low-Carb?

Low-carb diets are back in the news again. It seems that recent research suggests that low-carb diets are a good (and healthy) way to lose weight. I suppose the debate will continue on between those who are pro low-carb and those who are not. But this new study got me thinking: can a clean eating diet and a low-carb diet work together? I’m thinking maybe, which will come as a big surprise to those who know me because I have never been pro low-carb.

I will preface the rest of this post by saying I have never been on a low-carb diet. I have read a few low-carb diet books including Protein Power, Atkins, and South Beach, and also followed the infamous Kimkins’ story, but to say that I have actually lost weight by going low-carb? No. I lost my post-pregnancy weight (with both children) the old-fashioned way of eating healthy and working out.

So can someone who eats clean also eat low-carb? I think so, but there are a few things to consider. The first, and most important, thing to take into account is that clean eating doesn’t require anyone to give up any of the food groups, which includes grains (carbs). The “induction phase” of a low-carb diet usually does call very minimal carb intake. If we were to just look at that major difference and stop here, I would say eating clean and low-carb cannot mesh. But there are other things to consider, such as skipping the induction phase and going on with the rest of the low-carb diet of choice, which is when “good carbs” are slowly added back into the diet since eating clean does include eating good carbs.

Another thing to consider is that most of the low-carb diets I have looked at suggest eating a good amount of red meat and cheeses, and have no qualms about using lard or other unhealthy fats when cooking. If someone were to ditch the cheese (or at least most of it since we cheese lovers can never fully give up cheese, can we?) and opt for fish and chicken instead of red meat, and switch out the lard for olive oil or any of the other healthy oils on the market, then maybe they could pull it off.

So do I think some who is eating clean can also eat low-carb? Yes. Having said that, I always try to deter people from going on a low-carb diet. Research has shown over and over that while people do lose weight on low-carb diets (or most diets for that matter), the weight is typically gained back when the diet is stopped. That’s why I always promote a lifestyle change that includes healthy eating practices to lose weight and keep it off permanently.