Low Carbohydrate

A low carbohydrate may sound appealing at first, but the side effects of a low carbohydrate diet might make it seem appalling.

Low Carbohydrate

Are you suffering on your low carbohydrate diet? Suffering from carb cravings and lack of variety? It was bound to happen sooner or later. This is one of the reasons people drop out of their low carbohydrate diets. But boredom isn't the only reason people drop out.

Low Carbohydrate Diet Side Effects

Low carbohydrate diets work by burning fat and protein in the absence of carbs. Most low carbohydrate diets encourage you to eat a lot of protein, like meats, eggs and cheese. It sounds great at first--after all, how many diets will let you have bacon and eggs, omelettes, steak, etc.? But these foods tend to go better with toast, potatoes, etc. And that's what you have to give up on a low carbohydrate diet. More extreme low carb diets make you give up almost all carbs for a long time--if not indefinitely. In doing so, your body will experience side effects, some of which are severe, others are a mere annoyance.

Let's start by explaining that when your body is burning fat for fuel, ketones are released into your bloodstream and excreted through your urine. This is a state known as ketosis, and its side effects include bad breath, nausea, headaches and a lack of energy. When your body is using protein as fuel, uric acid is released into your system, which can lead to kidney damage. The uric acid also causes calcium to be leached from your bones, which can lead to osteoporosis.

Other side effects of a diet that focuses on very, very low carbohydrates are constipation and moodiness. Cutting carbs from your diet means cutting out high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. This lack of fiber is what causes constipation. In addition, carbs trigger your brain to produce serotonin, a "feel-good" hormone that regulates mood and appetite. This is what causes moodiness. Plus, carbs are the only nutrients that can reach your brain, so cutting them out so drastically means you aren't feeding your brain.

There are ways to counteract some of these side effects like taking multivitamins, fiber supplements and calcium supplements, but the best way to get the nutrients you need is through the foods you eat. So how are you supposed to lose weight? Stop eating simple carbs (foods made with white flour, refined sugar and potatoes) and eat high-fiber complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And count the carbs you're currently eating. Our bodies only need 130 grams of carbs a day to function properly, but most of us unknowingly eat far more than that. So try doing a low carbohydrate diet by cutting your daily intake to 130 grams of carbs and you'll be putting yourself on a healthy low carb diet.

There are many low carbohydrate diets that restrict carb intake way too much and this is definitely not a recommended way to lose weight. And the odds are that if you are on a super-restrictive low carbohydrate diet you will only end up gaining that weight back in long run. So make a wise decision and make it count.