Low-carbohydrate diets can lead to quick weight loss, which has made several of them very popular. At the same time, however, these diets usually call for followers to eat more meat, and that can lead to other health problems along the way. Learning the advantages and disadvantages of a low-carb, high-protein-and-fat diet remains essential to determining whether you should follow this kind of eating plan.
Weight Loss
Many begin low-carb diets to lose weight, since the body first burns glycogen, which comes from the consumption of carbohydrates, for energy. Without these carbohydrates in your body, you begin burning fat for energy, which leads to short-term weight loss. A low-carb diet also acts as a diuretic, so you lose water weight almost immediately. By eating more fats and proteins during your diet, your body feels full for longer because they take longer to digest and convert to energy.
Treating Carbohydrate Addiction
Some individuals follow a low-carb diet plan because they cannot limit the number of carbohydrates consumed without a meal plan. If you have a carbohydrate addiction, you end up consuming more carbohydrates than your body needs because this consumption increases your body's natural insulin levels. When your insulin levels increase too much, you must eat more at every meal to prevent your blood-sugar levels from dropping.
Energy Loss
Your body needs carbohydrates for energy, and failing to eat enough of them could hinder your body's performance. As your diet continues, you could begin feeling weak and sluggish, even if you eat plenty of fats and proteins throughout the day. Since proteins and fats take longer to break down into energy, the amount of glycogen stored in your blood decreases as your carbohydrate consumption does, which also decreases your energy levels.
Health Problems
Foods with higher fat values, such as many proteins, usually contain more cholesterol. A high-cholesterol diet increases your chance of contracting heart disease, cancer and diabetes. You could also deprive your body of vitamins and minerals found in many carbohydrates that remain essential to your overall health. Other health problems include ketosis, which occurs when you burn too much body fat too quickly; brain-related problems, due to your body not having the fuel for proper cognitive function; and bone loss, attributable to a lack of potassium.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Low-Carb Diet; May 2010
- American Heart Association; Carbohydrate Addiction; May 2010
- Harvard University: Carbohydrates: Good Carbs Guide the Way
- WomensHealth.gov; Low-Carb Diets Heavy on Meat May Raise Health Risks; September 2010
- American Heart Association; High-Protein Diets; May 2010
Member Comments