Carb Carnival - Low Carbohydrate

Low Carbohydrate

When you're starting a low carbohydrate diet, you're probably excited about the prospect of getting to have omelettes, bacon, eggs, cheese, steak, sausage, meatloaf, quiches, etc. without the worries of fat content. After all, a low carbohydrate diet focuses on high protein foods without regard to fat content because a low carbohydrate diet burns fat and protein when it doesn't have carbohydrates to use as its main source of fuel. But that can lead to unpleasant side effects.

Side Effects of a Low Carb Diet

When your body is burning fat and protein instead of carbs, ketones are released into your bloodstream and excreted through urine. This is a state known as ketosis, and ketosis produces many unpleasant side effects. Here's a brief list of these side effects:

Bad breath
Nausea
Headaches
Lack of energy
Grouchiness
Constipation - due to a lack of fiber in your diet

Other side effects of being on a low carbohydrate diet long-term include:

Kidney damage - This is due to uric acid being released into your bloodstream when protein is being used as fuel
Possible heart disease - This is due to the fact that you are allowed to have so many saturated fats
Risk of osteoporosis - When your body starts burning protein, it leaches calcium from your bones
Heightened risk of cancer - This is due to a lack of vegetables that provide key nutrients and antioxidants

Is A Low Carb Diet for You?

Part of the popularity of low carbohydrate diets is that when followed correctly, you can lose a lot of weight in a little time. However, studies have been done to compare low carbohydrate diets to other diets that don't eliminate two or three food groups. These studies show that diets that emphasize low carbohydrates aren't necessarily any better. After six months, those on a low carbohydrate diet lost more weight than those on other types of diets, but after a year, the weight losses were the same. And if your weight comes off slowly, it's more likely to stay off if you continue to be careful after you've lost all the weight you want to lose. So really, the choice is yours.

Since our bodies only need 130 grams of carbs a day, instead of going on a low carbohydrate diet, why not limit your carb intake instead? Most of us eat far more carbs than we need, and cutting back to 130 grams a day is enough. But don't make those carbs foods like desserts and foods made with white flour. Instead, make low carbohydrate food choices like vegetables, some fruits and whole grain foods. These are low carbohydrate foods that keep you feeling full longer, which will ultimately lead you to eat less.