A low-carbohydrate diet is designed to help dieters lose weight by requiring the body to use stores of fat to meet daily energy needs. Low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins Diet or the South Beach Diet restrict dieters from consuming sugars and carbohydrates by eliminating whole grains, sugary fruits, starchy vegetables and sweets from their diets. Protein consumption is emphasized, as protein provides calories for energy and is an essential nutrient in muscle growth and health. However, stressing protein over consuming a balanced diet does have risks.
Excess Fat Consumption
Depending on the type of diet you follow, you may consume too much fat on a low-carbohydrate eating plan. The Atkins Diet does not differentiate between lean and fatty proteins, while the South Beach Diet limits fatty cuts of meat. According to the experts at MayoClinic.com, excess consumption of fatty meats increases your risk of both heart disease and cancer.
Limited Nutrients
Low-carbohydrate diets eliminate or severely restrict the amounts of breads, fruits and vegetables consumed. Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, which can be temporarily replaced with supplements, but they also contain dietary fiber, as do whole-grain breads. Restricting the amount of fiber in your diet leads to constipation and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Ketosis
Depriving your body of carbohydrates in your diet effectively switches it from being a carbohydrate-burning machine to a fat-burning machine. According to Christian Nordqvist of Medical News Today, burning fat raises ketone levels, which results in a condition known as ketosis. While ketosis is a desired state for low-carbohydrate dieters, too many ketone bodies in your blood may be dangerous. Acetone is a component of ketones. Toxic levels of ketones cause the blood to become too acidic and may lead to kidney and liver damage. Ketosis also causes bad breath. Ketones are excreted from your body in two ways: the urine and the breath. Urine sticks measure the level of ketones, but a distinct odor on your breath is also a good indicator that your body is burning fat for energy.
Bone Loss
When the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine looked at low-carbohydrate diets, they noted that elevated protein consumption increases calcium loss in urine. Dairy products are also restricted on most low-carbohydrate diets. An increase in calcium loss coupled with a decrease in calcium consumption increases bone loss and the risk of bone fracture.
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