How Many Carbs Should You Have to Lose Weight?

Low-carb fish and vegetable kebabs

How Low You Can Go

Low-low carb chicken and vegetable soup

Many low-carb diet plans start with very few carbs: 20 g per day in the first or "induction" phase of the Atkins Diet or under 50 g per day in Michael R. Eades' MD's Protein Power plan. This range is considered to be the most effective for a typical low-carb diet program.

Very Low Carbs Can Seem Too Restrictive

Lower-carb roast chicken and vegetables

Weight loss relative to carbohydrate intake is highly individual. According to Primal Eating Plan proponent Mark Sisson, people can consume 100 to 150 g of carbs per day---one-third to one-half of the typical American's consumption---and still lose weight while allowing more food choices and decreasing the likelihood of giving up on the program.

Bottom Line

Ideal weight and good health go hand in hand.

A low-carb diet plan offers the flexibility of starting at 20 to 50 g per day and increasing carb intake until weight loss tapers off or stops. Or dieters can begin at 100 to 150 g per day and decrease the amount if necessary to find the optimum carb intake for sustained weight loss. Before changing your diet, contact your doctor.