The low carbohydrate diet has gained much popularity in recent years. The primary goal of the diet is to starve your body of essential carbohydrates and force it to use the fat stored in your body for energy. Many have changed their lifestyle to an exclusive low carb diet. Unfortunately the human body was not designed for this and you should be informed of the risks.
The most frequent complaint from people who start this diet is the frequent episodes of fatigue and restlessness. This occurs because your body is starved of the carbohydrates needed as the primary source of energy. People have been known to faint and experience mood swings as a result of less sugar in their diet.
Bad breath and smelly urine caused by ketosis are common low carb diet risks. With a reduction in glucose, our bodies start producing ketone bodies to be transported through the blood brain barrier to be used as energy for the brain. Acetone is produced in this process which gives off a fruity or yeasty smell. Often high levels of proteins are consumed with this diet which get broken down into ammonia and uric acid. This also gets excreted through the breath and urine giving off a foul odor.
Kidney stones and gout are other low carb diet risks which you should be aware of. They are caused by increased levels of uric acid which tend to accumulate in the body with this diet.
Lack of fiber is one of the many low carb diet risks. By reducing the amount of fruits and whole grains you reduce the amount of fiber in your diet. This can lead to feelings of hunger which will cause you to eat more as well as digestive problems such as constipation and dehydration. The lack of fruits and grains may also cause you to be malnourished from a lack of essential vitamins and nutrients.
Most of the weight loss people experience during the first few weeks is caused by dehydration and muscle loss. Due to a lack of glycogen, the body resorts to breaking down muscle before it has a chance to break down fats as the alternative energy source. Lower muscle mass will slow down your metabolism and cause you to gain the weight back after you start incorporating carbs back into your diet.
This diet is difficult to sustain for long periods of time and many will gain the weight back as they reincorporate carbohydrates into their diet. This creates the common yo-yo diet effect. It also has tendency to limit your food choices. This causes many quickly get bored with this diet and often produces cravings and binges in foods with sugar and fat.
Low carb diets are not suggested as a long-term solution to your weight loss problem. It may have some benefits but they are not without risks. Proper diet and exercise is essential for long-term permanent weight loss. Become aware of the low carb diet risks before you decide if this diet is right for you.