There are three times of the year when we massively look online for ways to lose weight: late December, early January and spring. Since the crocuses have come up again and the temperature is slowly rising, spring is always a new start. Also for body and limb. And that often means that most of us also take a critical look at our (healthy) weight and diet.
There are of course a huge number of diets and which diet suits you and is good for you is very personal. Everyone wants to lose weight quickly and it is therefore tempting to choose a weight loss program that is popular on the internet.
Low carb and ketosis
The low-carbohydrate diet has become very popular in recent years. At one low carb diet plan leave your processed food, just like fast carbohydrates such as sugar, pasta, bread and rice so that your body will burn fat in the absence of them. In general, you eat low carbohydrates if you limit the total amount of carbohydrates you consume in a day to less than 130 grams.
Carbohydrates are the largest source of energy for our body. If we don’t get them, the body will eventually switch to burning fatty acids. This releases substances called ketones. Those ketones actually serve as an alternative food for the brain, because unlike the rest of our body, the brain cannot use fatty acids as fuel. When the amount of ketones in the blood reaches a certain value, we say that the body is ‘in ketosis’. To put the body in a state of ketosis and still fill itself, a lot of fats are eaten instead of carbohydrates.
Importance of a low carbohydrate diet
However, if you are going to follow this diet, it is a good idea to know the risks and understand the theory behind the diet. It is strongly recommended to use a good low carbohydrate diet. Such a schedule is designed to help you maintain a healthy balance while reducing the amount of carbohydrates you eat. Each day, you’ll see the different carbohydrate amounts of foods, so you can choose what works best for you. This is nutritionally balanced, the calories are already counted for you, and it contains at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. In addition, fibers are also included in the schedule. It is important to try to include good sources of nutrition in your schedule every day.
Pros and cons of a low carb diet
Following a low-carbohydrate diet is not suitable for everyone. There is some evidence that low-carb schedules may be safe and effective in helping people with type 2 diabetes manage their weight, blood sugar, and short-term risk of heart disease. And recent research also shows that combining standard epilepsy therapies with a low-carbohydrate diet reduced seizures by more than half in a quarter of participants.
But there is also a new study which shows that the regular consumption of a diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat was associated with increased levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, there is also evidence that they can affect the growth of children and should therefore not be recommended for them.
So if you decide to follow a low-carb diet plan, it’s important that you know all the possible benefits and know how to deal with any risks.
