Low Carb Diet: What It Is, Advantages And Disadvantages

the sugar content of foods for a low carb diet

Who is marked with the amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates on the products? Of course for those who follow any diet. So those who follow the low carb option should first pay attention that the carb content of the product does not exceed a certain amount.

Who needs a low carb diet and why?

Such a diet is a reduction or complete rejection of high-carbohydrate foods. Initially, the diet was developed for athletes. Now, such foods are most commonly used by three categories of people:

  1. Those who want to lose weight.
  2. Diabetics.
  3. The athletes themselves.

Carbohydrates in foods are sugar. It doesn’t matter that some high carb foods aren’t sweet at all. When processed in the body, all carbohydrates become sugar. Therefore, diabetics, people with high blood sugar levels insist on a carbohydrate-free diet.

In addition, scientists have shown that excess sugar in food is deposited in the human body in the form of fat. Therefore, those who want to lose weight also follow a low carb diet. Athletes only need to keep in good shape. Other names for low carbs are ketone or protein systems.

foods for a low carb diet

When they eat a low-carbohydrate diet, people reduce their intake or exclude it from their diet:

  1. Pastries.
  2. Sugar and any sweets.
  3. Some vegetables: potatoes, pumpkin.
  4. Sweet fruits: bananas, apricots and berries: cherries, grapes.
  5. Store juices.
  6. Some cereals: rice.
  7. Pasta.

And this is not a complete list. But does everyone need a similar diet? After all, each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Diet professionals

Nutritionists and general therapists recommend not only a carbohydrate-free diet not only to dieters but also to patients. You can also limit carbohydrate intake for normal emptying. But in general, such a diet has several benefits:

  • Supporting the body. Anyone, not just the sick, needs to stay healthy because the excess carbs act like a slow bomb. Constant overeating of foods high in carbohydrates gradually destroys the body.
  • With a low-carbohydrate diet, the body’s insulin sensitivity increases, so the pancreas produces less insulin. This allows you to protect yourself from an incurable disease - diabetes. Therefore, the great benefit of diet is the prevention of serious diseases.
  • For those who lose weight, the plus is that you can eat a lot of food without carbs and still lose weight. Some people find it difficult to limit their food intake, so a carb-free meal is a great option. For example, meat contains no carbohydrates at all.
  • You can lose weight in a short time.
  • Low-carb foods don’t have to go to a specialty store or buy something special. All food is sold in ordinary supermarkets near the house, in any town or village: I bought and bought it.
  • The price of the issue. You don’t need a lot of money for a diet. You buy the usual healthy products you are already used to: meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products. On the contrary, if you give up some sweets, there will even be savings.
  • Even low-carb menus are easy to find online. There is a lot of information with tables, recipes and other useful tips. You don’t have to think for yourself what and how. And even more so to visit nutritionists to put together a diet. Just download and print your daily dose.
  • You can stick to this diet for a very long time. Over time, the craving for sweets disappears, and after a few years, the usual portions of sugar appear sugary.
  • Such a diet is considered the lightest and "softest", unlike others. If you do everything right, you will not have stress for your body and avoid disadvantages.
weight loss with a low carb diet

Cons

It is not in vain that students are advised to eat chocolate before the exam. Sugar is energy, and sweets are a quick way to do it. Therefore, a low carb diet is not good for everyone. Some people need to consider the disadvantages of their diet and avoid a low carb diet.

  • Workers who perform intense mental or physical work should not be delighted with such a diet. And one and the other requires the same energy that a person cannot get without carbs.
  • Diabetics, although they need to limit their carbohydrate intake, need to be aware that their complete deficiency can lead to low blood sugar - hypoglycemia, which is very dangerous.
  • It is worth avoiding such a diet and those who suffer from frequent edema. It is recommended to drink plenty of water on a low carb diet and this will lead to even greater swelling.
  • You should not follow such a diet for children and adolescents (except the obese). During the period of growth, the body needs a normal, not a low, amount of carbohydrates to develop.
  • Pregnant women and nursing mothers do not follow a diet. You may want to lose weight after giving birth, but your baby’s health and development are more important.
  • During a low carb diet, one consumes more protein and fat. Harmful to heart patients and kidney problems. Kidney stones have been reported in the diet.
  • Sometimes the treatment is accompanied by headaches and constipation. If these side effects occur, stop consuming carbohydrate-free foods.
  • In addition to a low carb diet, when sugary foods are limited, the desire for them will be very strong. Not everyone is able to resist this desire, as a result it fails and all the benefits of the diet run out.
  • Due to drowsiness at the beginning of the diet, drivers and those responsible for important items should use it with caution.

Result

Any diet, including a low-carb diet, is stressful for the body, so you should not suddenly give up on sugary foods. The transition to a carbohydrate-free diet should be done smoothly, watching your reaction. Only then will you have some benefits from your diet and avoid all of the disadvantages listed. You may want to test whether a low-carb treatment is appropriate.