Consuming less calories than what your body uses as fuel can help you lose weight. Calories essentially refer to the energy you can derive from the things you eat and drink. Your body stores unused calories in the form of fat, and this can result in weight gain. Low-carb diet plans present you with ways to lose weight but can have health risks right alongside the benefits.
Description of Low-Carb Diet Plans
Low-carb diet plans help you lose weight by decreasing your carbohydrate intake. Low-carb diet plans measure food according to two main things: glycemic index, or GI, and glycemic load, or GL. Glycemic index classifies food according to how quickly any sugar the food contains is released into your body. Glycemic load measures both the glycemic index and the amount of carbohydrates contained in a serving of food. Low-carb diet plans typically encourage the consumption of food with low GI and GL.
Low-Carb Diet Plans and Cholesterol Reduction
Low-carb diet plans may help you reduce the amount of cholesterol in your body, as long as you avoid eating foods with saturated fat. The South Beach Diet is a good example of a low-carb diet plan that includes fats and proteins that do not contribute to your cholesterol levels, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes.
Health Risks of Low-Carb Diet Plans
Low-carb diet plans can potentially place your health at risk despite effectively helping you lose weight. Some low-carb diets may recommend consuming foods rich in saturated fat. This can elevate your cholesterol levels and possibly raise the probability that you may develop heart conditions or cancer, MayoClinic.com explains. Other low-carb diet plans decrease your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains such that you have a fiber deficiency. Low-carb diet plans can cause you to experience dehydration, dizziness, nausea, and weakness as a result of fat that has not been completely broken down. This condition is called ketosis.
Food Composition of Low-Carb Diet Plans
Low-carb diet plans may vary in terms of the types of food they include and exclude. However, low-carb diet plans typically recommend the consumption of non-starchy vegetables and meat. But even the kind of meat recommended can vary from low-carb diet plan to low-carb diet plan. The South Beach diet, for example, does not encourage the general high consumption of protein. Instead, it encourages specifically the consumption of fish, nuts, and protein that does not harm your heart. While most low-carb diet plans may include fruits and vegetables, the consumption of such types of food is generally regulated.
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