Low carb diet: what it is, pros and cons

sugar content of foods low in carbohydrates

Who is labeled for protein, fat and carbohydrates? Of course, for those who follow any kind of diet. So, people who consider the possibility of low carbohydrate content, first of all, pay attention to the fact that the carbohydrate content of the product does not exceed a certain amount.

Who needs a low carb diet and why?

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

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

Carbohydrates in foods are sugar. It doesn't matter that some foods that are high in carbohydrates are not sweet at all. When processed in the body, all carbohydrates become sugar. Therefore, diabetics, people with high blood sugar, follow a diet without carbohydrates.

Scientists have also shown that it is the excess sugar in food that is deposited in the human body in the form of fat. Therefore, those who want to lose weight also use a low carb diet. Athletes just need to keep fit. Other names for low carbs are ketone or protein regimens.

foods low in carbohydrates

By eating a low-carbohydrate diet, people reduce or eliminate diet:

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

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

Dietary pros

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

  • Body support. Everyone, not just a sick person, should stay healthy because excess carbohydrates act like a slow bomb. Constant overeating of foods high in carbohydrates gradually destroys the body.
  • Following a low carb diet increases the body's sensitivity to insulin, so the pancreas produces less insulin. This allows you to protect yourself from an incurable disease - diabetes. Therefore, a big nutritional plus is the prevention of serious diseases.
  • The plus for those who lose weight is that you can eat a lot of carbohydrate-free foods and still lose weight. Some people find it difficult to limit their food intake, so eating without carbohydrates is a great option. For example, meat does not contain carbohydrates at all.
  • You can lose weight in a short time.
  • Low carb foods don't have to go to a specialty store or buy something special. All food is sold in ordinary supermarkets near the house in any town or village: I received it and bought it.
  • Issue price. Diet does not require much money. You buy the usual healthy products you are already used to: meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products. On the contrary, if you give up some sweets, there will even be savings.
  • Even low-carb menus are easy to find online. There is a lot of information with tables, recipes and other useful tips. You don't have to think for yourself what and how it is. And even more - to visit nutritionists to compile a diet. Just download and print your daily dose.
  • You can stick to such a diet for a very long time. Over time, the craving for sweets will disappear, and after a few years the usual doses of sugar will seem sugary.
  • Such a diet is considered the lightest and "softest", unlike some others. If everything is done correctly, then the body will not be stressed and the cons will be eliminated.
lose weight by following a low carb diet

Minuses

It is not for nothing that students are advised to eat a bar of chocolate before the exam. Sugar is energy, and sweets are a quick way to get it. Therefore, a low carb diet is not suitable for everyone. Some people should consider the disadvantages of eating and avoid low carb diets.

  • Hard-working or manual workers should not be obsessed with such a diet. Both need the same energy that a person does not get without carbohydrates.
  • Diabetics, although they should limit their carbohydrate intake, should be aware that their complete absence can lead to low blood sugar - hypoglycaemia, which is very dangerous.
  • It is worth avoiding such a diet and those who suffer from frequent edema. It is recommended to drink plenty of water on a low carb diet and this will cause even more swelling.
  • You cannot follow this diet in children and adolescents (except those who are obese). During the growth period, the body needs a normal amount of carbohydrates, not low.
  • Pregnant women as well as nursing mothers do not follow a diet. Maybe you want to lose weight after giving birth, but the health and development of the baby is more important.
  • Following a low carb diet, a person eats more protein and fat. It is harmful for people with heart problems and those with kidney problems. Kidney stones have been reported with diet.
  • Sometimes the treatment is accompanied by headaches and constipation. If these side effects occur, you should stop eating carbohydrate-free foods.
  • Following a low carb diet, when sweet foods are restricted, the craving for them becomes very strong. Not everyone is able to withstand this tendency, as a result of which they fail, and all the benefits of diet are reduced.
  • Due to drowsiness at the beginning of the diet, it should be used with caution in drivers and people in charge of important items.

The result

Any diet, including a low carb diet, causes stress to the body, so you should not suddenly give up foods that contain sugar. The transition to a carbohydrate-free diet should be smooth, taking into account your reaction. Only in this case, the diet will have some advantages, and it will be possible to avoid all the listed disadvantages. It's worth trying to find out if a low carb regimen is right for you.