Carbnivore - Carb

Carb

If you are on a low carb diet, chances are you're counting all carbs. You have to. Most low carb diets only allow you to have 20 grams a day during the first two weeks, and only 60 grams a day after that. But the human body needs 130 grams of carbs a day for optimal health.

It Can be Hard to Go Low Carb

Before you start on a low carb diet, you need to realize how many carbs are in your normal, everyday diet. Granted, you already know you're going to have to make some changes and cut out some foods you might really like. That's true for almost any diet. But most will allow you smaller portions of your favorite foods, or at least allow them occasionally. Chances are you're eating about 225 or more grams of carbs a day. Cutting down to only 130 grams a day would be hard enough, but a low carb diet wants you down to 20 grams a day from the outset. There are many problems with this:

Carbohydrates are one of the only nutrients that make it to the brain. Consequently, one of the side effects of a low carb diet is that you become a little sluggish mentally.
Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy. In the absence of carbs, it will burn fat first, then protein. When it's burning fat, ketones are released into the bloodstream and excreted through urine. This is a state called ketosis, which causes headaches, nausea and bad breath. When your body starts burning protein for fuel, uric acid is released in the bloodstream, which can eventually cause kidney damage.
Complex carbohydrates like fruits and most vegetables are not allowed on a low carb diet. This means you don't have enough fiber in your diet for regularity, and you are missing out on key vitamins, minerals and micronutrients that are necessary to ward off disease, putting you at risk for cancer. Sure, you can take supplements, but that's not enough.
Milk is considered somewhat high in carbs for those on a low carb diet. One cup has 11 grams of carbs. When you need three cups a day, that's 33 grams. During the first two weeks, that puts you over your limit. After that, it's over half of your carbohydrate allowance. But you need milk for strong bones and teeth. Not getting enough means you're putting yourself at risk for osteoporosis later in life.

Bottom line: Before you go low carb, decide if it's worth risking your health. There are other ways to lose weight. Granted, they might take longer, but at least you're more likely to keep the weight off. Start your low carb diet today. Get a carb counter and keep on track to learn the difference between a good carb and a bad carb.

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