Low Carbohydrate Diet Programs

Low carbohydrate diet programs aren't for everyone. Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of low carbohydrate diet programs here.

Low Carbohydrate Diet Programs

There are definitely benefits to low carbohydrate diet programs. That's why they work so well! But there are drawbacks too. On this page, we'll outline both.

The Good

Probably the biggest benefit of low carbohydrate diet programs is that they burn a lot of fat in a short amount of time. And that's what we all want, right? Not only do we want to lose the weight itself, but we want the fat burned off too. When you see the results people get, it's easy to ignore the risks. That's not to say that a low carb diet can't be done safely. However, there are healthier ways to lose weight. They're slower, but for some reason, our bodies tend to keep weight off better when it comes off slower.

The other benefit of low carb dieting is that it gets you away from the carbs that you shouldn't be eating a lot of in the first place, like white breads and refined sugars. Let's face it--you didn't gain weight from eating too many fruits and veggies now, did you?

The Bad and The Ugly

The most important thing about low carbohydrate diet programs is that whichever one you choose, you get the book and follow it to the letter. Otherwise, you run major health risks. The first risk is with the foods you're allowed to eat--specifically meats, cheeses and eggs. If you stick with leaner cuts of meat, moderate amounts of cheese and maybe use egg substitute, the risks are significantly less. But too many times, people use this as a license to drown eggs with lots of cheese and eat a lot of bacon, steak and other fatty meats. This leaves you with a lot of saturated fats in your body which puts you at an increased risk for heart disease.

In addition, low carbohydrate diet programs don't allow enough fruits, vegetables or dairy. Now, if you don't mind taking a lot of fiber, vitamins and other supplements--and you actually do take them, you'll be fine. It's still better to get your nutrients from food, but if you don't take these things, you'll end up constipated and you'll put yourself at risk for conditions like osteoporosis and even cancer in some cases. Eventually, when your body doesn't have enough fat or carbs to burn, it starts burning protein, which causes uric acid to be released into your bloodstream, which can cause kidney damage. Add this to the other unpleasant side effects associated with low carbohydrate diet programs like bad breath and irritability.

We're not saying a low carb diet will kill you. We're just saying it's not the absolute best way to lose weight. However, it can be done in a healthier way, so if you decide to go low carb, do it right.