Low Carb Diet

Low carb diets or low carbohydrate diets are those dietary programs that are deigned to restrict the intake of carbohydrate consumption which in most cases is for the treatment of obesity or for weight control. In a typical low carb diet plan, the foods that are high in digestible carbohydrates namely pasta, bread etc are required to be replaced with foods that contain a higher proportion of fats and proteins namely soy products, meats etc as well as low carb diet foods like green leafy vegetables.

A low carbohydrate diet is defined as diet that restrict the caloric intake in an individual by curtailing the intake of carbohydrates to 20 to 60 grams per day which is almost less than 20 percent of the typical daily caloric intake of an individual. Low carb diets are also used to treat other medical conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Additionally low carbohydrate diets are also advisable for those suffering from diabetes and epilepsy.


Those on a low carb diet are required to replace their intake of carbohydrates with proteins and fats and in a low carb diet an individual can eat till he is full as there is no restriction on the quantity of foods on the low carb food list such as green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, fish, poultry turkey etc. Hence most low carb diet recipes will include these foods as a primary ingredient. Following a low carb diet menu for a long period of time is not always advisable as they tend to contain high amounts of protein which need to be processed by the liver and kidney. Ordinarily this extra protein will not harm a healthy kidney but a weak kidney may get overworked.

Similarly low carb diets also tend to increase the amount of uric acid in the blood which in turn is a risk factor for the formation of kidney stones and gout. Hence low carb diets are not recommended for those with kidney problems as it may further aggravate their condition. There are also some low carb diets that tend to allow the individual to consume an alarming amount of animal foods which are known to be high in saturated fats.


Excessive consumption of saturated fats may result in raising the levels of LDL cholesterol and increases the risk of strokes and heart disease. Similarly, a low carb diet that is high in animal foods but low in vegetables, fruits and whole grains also tends to increase the risk of many cancers in the individual especially that of breast cancer.

A low carbohydrate diet that is high is animal protein derived from foods like red meat is also known to increase the risk of osteoporosis, especially in women as the body tends to take calcium from the bones to try and neutralize the acids that tend to build up in the blood.


This buildup of acids is caused on account of the digestion of large amounts of proteins that are consumed while on a low carb diet. Hence it is advisable that before undertaking any kind of diet let alone a low carb diet one should first consult their doctor or a proper nutritionist so as to ascertain which diet would best suit their body type and lifestyle so as to get the desired output. Low carb diet should also include a sufficient intake of water as it is known to make the individual full and thereby curb cravings. Additionally dehydration is also known to disguise itself in some individuals in the form of hunger and hence to prevent dehydration one should drink plenty of fresh, clean drinking water.