Sugary food
The Nutrition Facts label is seen on a box of Pop Tarts at a store in New York in this February 27, 2014 file photo Reuters/Brendan McDermid/Files

The Noakes/Banting diet is becoming quite popular among people aiming to lose weight and boost heart health. The eating approach was created by Tim Noakes and was actually prescribed by Dr. William Harvey in 1861. William Banting, an undertaker from London, used the diet with excellent results. The low-carbohydate method was dubbed the Noakes/Banting diet and is still widely used today.

The Pros of the Diet

In an article on Health24, Professor Noakes recommended eliminating sugar completely from the diet. Other sources of sugar should also be eliminated such as sugary drinks, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts and high energy fruits like bananas and pineapple. When sugar is eliminated from a person's diet, the brain will automatically regulate the total calories necessary. As a result, the individual's body weight will eventually reach the desired number over time.

Generally, most of the sugary foods taken out of the diet are not needed for health, said Noakes. In fact, many of the refined sugars and carbohydrates in the list are deemed unhealthy and can pose a number of health problems like diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol level.

Furthermore, people who are allergic to grains and cereals do not have to worry about these since the food items are removed entirely. According to Noakes, he cured himself of two allergic respiratory conditions and a gastrointestinal problem since he started the Noakes/Banting diet.

Instead, carbohydrates are taken from healthier sources like vegetables and dairy products. People can still expect to have more than enough energy to carry on daily tasks and not worry about loss of focus and tiredness.

The Cons of the Diet

In a report by KetoDietApp.com, a very low-carbohydrate diet tends to raise LDL cholesterol levels. People on the Noakes/Banting diet may also developed a reduced tolerance for high-carb foods. When they consume a high-carbohydrate product, their blood sugar might spike. Some people further reported being constipated after starting on it. Finally, similar to any other diet, there are food restrictions so individuals have to stop eating some of their favorite treats.