Carbs Explained - Low Carb Diet Plan

Low Carb Diet Plan

If you're considering starting a low carb diet plan, you may want to reconsider. Why? Because a low carb diet plan can have serious side effects.

Why A Low Carb Diet Plan May Not be the Best Idea

Most low carb diet plans operate on the premise that cutting carbs is the best way to lose weight. And usually, that works. The problem is that they limit your carb intake too much. While it's true that most of us eat way too many carbs as it is, we really only need to limit our intake to what our bodies need to function, which is 130 grams a day. If you count the number of carbs you eat in a day, you might be surprised that you eat far more than that, which is okay if you work out like crazy. But most of us don't have time to work out that much (meaning, as much as it would take). Plus, carbs are one of the only nutrients that make it to your brain.

Now, if you go on a low carb diet plan, you will only be allowed to have 20 grams of carbs during the first two weeks (that's 14 days--you don't get a break on the weekends). This is to get your body into a fat-burning state called ketosis, which has many side effects, such as:

Bad breath
Headaches
Nausea (in some cases)
Moodiness
Inability to focus or concentrate

After the two week period, you get 60 grams a day until you've lost the desired weight--if you're on a very strict low carb diet plan like the Atkins Diet. Some low carb diet plans are more restrictive than that, and others are less restrictive. The more restrictive low carb diets can eventually cause your body to burn not only fat for fuel, but protein as well. This releases uric acid into your bloodstream, which can lead to kidney damage.

Another reason a low carb diet plan is a bad idea is because most of them consider fruits, vegetables and milk to be carbs. It's true, too--they are carbs, but they're the kinds of carbs your body actually needs. Fruits and vegetables have fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your body needs to stay regular and to build a strong immune system and help ward off diseases like cancer. And cutting milk out of your diet is equally as crazy because your body needs the calcium that milk provides to build strong teeth and bones. If you do go on a low carb diet, you probably have the low carb diet book that accompanies it. This book will probably tell you to take supplements to replace these missing nutrients, but a supplement is just that--it supplements your current diet. Vitamins and pills cannot replace good nutrition.