Following a low-carb diet means you restrict your intake of carbohydrates to between 50 g and 150 g daily says the MayoClinic website. Cereal, pasta, bread, sugars, many vegetables and most fruits contain carbohydrates and are thus limited to small servings or avoided altogether, while fats and proteins take a more prominent dietary role. While some may find a low-carb diet helps with weight loss, it may cause some negative effects.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Although a low-carb diet reduces your intake of refined carbohydrates and sugary foods, it also limits nutritious foods such as fruits, starchy vegetables and whole grains. Whenever you cut out entire categories of food, you risk nutritional deficiencies notes the American Heart Association.
Constipation
Whole grains, fruits and vegetables provide fiber that helps keep your digestive tract running smoothly. When you limit fiber, you may experience constipation and along with it, hemorrhoids.
Restrictions
You may find it challenging to eat at social functions or family affairs because of your low-carb diet. If some of your favorite foods are high in carbs, making them completely off-limits may cause binging when you are offered them.
Ketoacidosis
Following a low-carb diet for a long time -- especially an extremely low-carb diet that restricts intake to below 20 g daily -- can cause a condition known as ketoacidosis. In this situation, the body turns to stored fat for fuel, and releases an excessive amount of acids and ketones into the body -- stressing the kidneys and the liver, potentially causing fatigue, stupor and death, according to the MayoClinic website.
Higher Mortality Rate
A low-carb diet focused on meat correlates with a higher all-cause mortality rate, according to a September 6, 2010 study in the "Annals of Internal Medicine." Among over 100,000 dieters followed for 20 years, low-carb dieters who ate a diet emphasizing meat instead of a low-carb diet emphasizing plants had a higher rate of death.
Saturated Fat
If you are not careful, you can easily take in too much saturated fat by following a low-carb diet. Many foods low in carbohydrates are high in saturated fat, such as red meat, eggs and full-fat dairy. If you choose a low-carb lifestyle, make sure you eat fish, white-meat chicken, egg whites and soy often.
Poor Energy
Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of energy. Without adequate carbohydrates, you may experience fatigue, lethargy and weakness. You may find workouts are painful and that daily activity is draining.
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