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 on the products indicated? Obviously for those who follow any type of diet. So people who follow the low-carb option, first of all, pay attention to the fact that the carbohydrate content in the product does not exceed a certain amount.

Who Needs a Low Carb Diet and Why?

Such a diet is a reduction or complete rejection of carbohydrate-rich foods. Initially, the diet was developed for athletes. Now such food is used most often by 3 categories of people:

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

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

In addition, scientists have shown that it is the excess sugar in food that is deposited in the human body in the form of fat. Therefore, those who wish to lose weight also use a low-carb diet. Athletes just need to stay in good shape. Other names for low carb 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 sweets.
  3. Some vegetables: potatoes, squash.
  4. Sweet fruits: bananas, apricots and berries: cherries, grapes.
  5. Store the juices.
  6. Some 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.

Pro diet

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

  • Body support. Anyone, not just a sick person, should stay healthy, because an excess of carbohydrates acts like a slow bomb. Constant overeating of carbohydrate-rich foods gradually destroys the body.
  • With a low-carb diet, the body's sensitivity to insulin increases, so the pancreas produces less insulin. This allows you to protect yourself from an incurable disease - diabetes. Therefore, a big advantage of the diet is the prevention of serious illness.
  • For those who are losing weight, the benefit is that you can eat a lot of carbohydrate-free foods and continue to lose weight. Some people find it difficult to limit their food intake, so eating carb-free is a great option. Meat, for example, does not contain 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 food is sold in normal supermarkets near home in any town or village - I got it and bought it.
  • The price of the problem. It doesn't take a lot of money to diet. You buy normal healthy products that you are already used to: meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products. On the contrary, by giving up some sweets, there will also be savings.
  • Low-carb menus are also easy to find on the internet. There is a lot of information with tables, recipes and other useful tips. You don't need to think for yourself what and how it is. And even more so visit nutritionists to work out a diet. Just download and print your daily ration.
  • You can stick to such a diet for a long time. Over time, the craving for sweets will disappear and, after a few years, the usual doses of sugar will seem sugary.
  • This diet is considered the lightest and "softest", unlike others. If everything is done correctly, there will be no stress on the body and the disadvantages will be avoided.
lose weight on a low-carb diet

against

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 good for everyone. Some people should be aware of the negative aspects of their diet and avoid low-carb diets.

  • Workers with intense mental or physical work should not get carried away with such a diet. And one, and the second they need the same energy that a person does not get without carbohydrates.
  • Diabetics, although they have to limit their carbohydrate intake, should be aware that their complete absence can lead to low blood sugar levels - 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 and this will lead to even more bloating.
  • It is not possible to adhere to such a diet for children and adolescents (except for those who are obese). The body during the growth period needs a normal, rather than low, amount of carbohydrates for development.
  • Pregnant women, as well as nursing mothers, do not follow diets. Maybe you want to lose weight after giving birth, but your baby's health and development are more important.
  • On a low-carb diet, a person eats more protein and fat. It is harmful to heart patients and those with kidney problems. Kidney stones have been reported on the diet.
  • Sometimes the regimen is accompanied by headache and constipation. If these side effects occur, you should stop eating carbohydrate-free foods.
  • On a low-carb diet, when there is a restriction on sugary foods, the cravings for them become very strong. Not everyone is able to resist this craving, as a result they fail and all the benefits of the diet go down the drain.
  • Due to drowsiness during the start of the diet, it should be used with caution by drivers and people in charge of important items.

Result

Any diet, including a low-carb diet, is stressful for the body, so you shouldn't give up on sugar-containing foods abruptly. Switching to a carb-free diet should go smoothly, watching your reaction. Only in this case there will be some advantages from the diet and it will be possible to avoid all the listed disadvantages. It's worth trying to see if a low-carb diet is right for you.