What Is The Point Of A No-carb Diet?

Pioneered by Artic explorer Vilhjalmur Steffanson, the no-carb -- or carnivorous -- diet advocates eating only animal products such as meat, eggs, seafood and dairy. Steffanson promoted the diet after living with Eskimos, who ate primarily meat and a few berries in the summer. The prevailing thought at the time was that humans needed fruits, vegetables and grains to avoid scurvy and other ailments related to nutritional deficiencies. However, a 1930 study that followed Steffanson and another man who ate only meat for a year found that they suffered no ill effects.

Weight Loss

Staffanson and his fellow study participant lost weight in the 1930 study, but most of that was water weight, the researchers concluded. It wasn't until the 1970s and the introduction of the Atkins diet that eliminating carbs was linked to losing fat. Proponents of low- and no-carb diets suggest that limiting carbs forces the body to burn fat for fuel, because it doesn't have carbs to convert to glucose. The process of using fat for energy is called ketosis. There are few studies on the effectiveness of a no-carb diet. But many studies of low-carb diets indicate that they are a viable method for losing weight.

Reduce Cancer Risk

In 2011, the American Association for Cancer research reported that a low-carb, high-protein diet reduces the risk of cancer and slows the growth of tumors. The results of the study suggest that tumor cells need glucose to thrive, so by limiting carbs that your body converts to glucose, tumors don't have the fuel they need to grow. They also suggest that higher protein consumption leads to improved immunity and the ability to fight cancer.

Control Diabetes

The body converts carbs to glucose for energy. However, people with diabetes are unable access the glucose. As a result, doctors recommend that diabetics significantly reduce their carb intake. When diabetics consume fewer carbohydrates, they don't need as much insulin, and the pancreas doesn't have to work as hard.

Warnings

Despite the links between health issues and carbs, several experts warn against a no-carb diet. The American Heart Association expresses concern that no- and low-carb diets increase the risk of heart disease because of their high fat content. Choosing lean meats such as poultry and fish, can help you avoid saturated fats, which are the main concern in a no- or low-carb diet. One form of carb is fiber, which is important to digestive and colon health. Without fiber, you may experience constipation and increase your risk of colon cancer. Further, too much protein can cause damage to the liver and kidneys whose job it is to filter unused protein from the body.