http://www.carbcarnival.com/carbohydrate/low-carbohydrate.html Low carbohydrate dieters beware! Being on a low carbohydrate diet has side effects. en-us Tue, 04 Oct 2005 10:18:18 EDT Tue, 04 Oct 2005 10:18:18 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 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. Tue, 04 Oct 2005 10:18:18 EDT http://www.carbcarnival.com/carbohydrate/low-carbohydrate-diets.html Low carbohydrate diets aren't all bad. There are some low carbohydrate diets that actually put the emphasis where it should be--on the right carbs. en-us Wed, 05 Oct 2005 14:57:27 EDT Wed, 05 Oct 2005 14:57:27 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.carbcarnival.com/carbohydrate/low-carbohydrate-diet.html Low carbohydrate diet: Is it right for you? Consider the pros and cons of a low carbohydrate diet before you begin. Start right here on this page. en-us Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:53:23 EST Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:53:23 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.carbcarnival.com/carbohydrate/low-carbohydrate-foods.html Low carbohydrate foods are hard to find when you're trying to break out of the basics. But are foods labeled as low carbohydrate foods really all they're cracked up to be? en-us Wed, 05 Oct 2005 12:27:59 EDT Wed, 05 Oct 2005 12:27:59 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.carbcarnival.com/carbohydrate/low-carbohydrate-food.html Low carbohydrate food: Is it really a better choice? That depends on the low carbohydrate food you're thinking about getting, which is precisely what we are here to help you figure out. en-us Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:47:59 EST Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:47:59 EST Weblog Editor 2.0