Low carb diet: what it is, pros and cons

the sugar content of foods for a low-carbohydrate diet

For whom is the quantity of proteins, fats and carbohydrates indicated on the products? Of course, for those who follow any type of diet. So, people who follow the low-carb option first of all pay attention that the carbohydrate content of the product does not exceed a certain amount.

Who needs a low carbohydrate diet and why?

Such a diet is a reduction or complete rejection of foods high in carbohydrates. Initially, the diet was developed for athletes. However, these foods are most often used by 3 categories of people:

  1. Those who want to lose weight.
  2. Diabetics.
  3. The athletes themselves.

Carbohydrates in food are sugar. It doesn't matter that some foods high in carbohydrates are not sweet at all. When processed in the body, all carbohydrates become sugar. This is why diabetics, people with high blood sugar, adhere to a zero-carbohydrate diet.

In addition, scientists have proven that it is the excess sugar in food that gets deposited in the human body as fat. Therefore, those who want to lose weight also use a low carbohydrate diet. Athletes just need to stay in shape. Other names for low-carb diets are ketone or protein diets.

foods for a low carbohydrate diet

When following a low-carb diet, people reduce their intake or eliminate from their diet:

  1. Bakery products.
  2. Sugar and all the candy.
  3. Some vegetables: potatoes, pumpkin.
  4. Sweet fruits: bananas, apricots and berries: cherries, grapes.
  5. Store the juices.
  6. Certain cereals: rice.
  7. Pasta.

And this is not a complete list. But does everyone need a similar diet? After all, each of them has its pros and cons.

Diet Benefits

Nutritionists and general therapists advise a low-carb diet not only for people who are losing weight and are sick. You can also limit your carbohydrate intake for normal discharge. But in general, such a diet has many advantages:

  • Support for the body. Anyone, not just a sick person, needs to stay healthy because too much carbohydrate acts like a slow bomb. Constant overeating of foods rich in carbohydrates gradually destroys the body.
  • With a low-carbohydrate diet, the body's sensitivity to insulin increases, therefore the pancreas produces less insulin. This allows you to protect yourself from an incurable disease - diabetes. Therefore, a great advantage of the diet is the prevention of serious illness.
  • For those who are losing weight, the plus is that you can eat a lot of carbohydrate-free foods while losing weight. Some people find it difficult to limit their food intake, so eating without carbs is a great option. Meat, for example, does not contain any carbohydrates.
  • You can lose weight in no time.
  • Low-carb foods don't have to go to a specialty store or buy something special. All the food is sold in ordinary supermarkets near my house in any town or village: I got it and I bought it.
  • The price of the show. It doesn't take a lot of money to diet. You buy ordinary healthy products that you are already used to: meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products. On the contrary, if you forgo certain sweets, there will even be savings.
  • Even low-carb menus are easy to find on the Internet. There is a lot of information with tables, recipes and other useful tips. You don't have to figure out what and how it is for yourself. And even more to consult nutritionists to establish a diet. Just download and print your daily ration.
  • You can stick to such a diet for a very long time. Over time, the cravings for sweets will go away, and after a few years, the usual doses of sugar will seem sweet.
  • Such a diet is considered the lightest and "softest", unlike some others. If everything is done correctly, then there will be no stress on the body and the inconveniences will be avoided.
lose weight on a low-carb diet

Disadvantages

It is not for nothing that students are advised to eat a candy bar before the exam. Sugar is energy and candy is a quick way to get it. Therefore, a low-carb diet is not good for everyone. Some people need to be aware of the downsides to their diet and avoid low-carb diets.

  • Workers whose mental or physical work is intense should not get carried away by such a diet. And one, and the second need the same energy that a person doesn't get without carbohydrates.
  • Diabetics, although they should limit their intake of carbohydrates, should be aware that their complete absence can lead to hypoglycemia, which is very dangerous.
  • It is worth avoiding such a diet and those who suffer from frequent edema. It is recommended that you drink plenty of water on a low-carb diet, which will lead to even more swelling.
  • You cannot adhere to such a diet for children and adolescents (except for those who are obese). During the growth period, the body needs a normal, rather than a low, amount of carbohydrate in order to thrive.
  • Pregnant women, as well as nursing mothers, do not diet. You may want to lose weight after giving birth, but the health and development of the child is more important.
  • With a low carbohydrate diet, a person eats more protein and fat. It is harmful to heart patients and those with kidney problems. On the diet, kidney stones have been reported.
  • Sometimes the diet is accompanied by headaches and constipation. If these side effects occur, you should stop eating foods without carbohydrates.
  • With a low carbohydrate diet, when there is a restriction on sugary foods, the cravings become very strong. Not everyone is able to resist this urge, therefore, they fail and all the benefits of the diet are lost.
  • Due to drowsiness at the start of the diet, it should be used with caution by drivers and those in charge of large objects.

Results

Any diet, including a low-carbohydrate diet, is stressful on the body, so you should not suddenly give up foods that contain sugar. The transition to a carbohydrate-free diet should be smooth, by observing your reaction. Only in this case will the diet bring some advantages, and all the listed disadvantages will be possible to avoid. It's worth trying to see if a low-carb diet is right for you.