Why Cutting Carbs Out Completely is a BAD IDEA - a podcast by Discussions with successful health experts such as Ben Greenfield, Terry Wa

A lot of people tend to cut out foods containing carbohydrates just to reduce their weight. However, many do not consider the short-term and long-term consequences of such actions.

If you’re one of the people cutting carbs out completely to lose weight, this article will show you the many side effects of your actions.

What are carbohydrates and what do they do?

Carbohydrates are sugar molecules that can be broken down to release glucose needed by the body to make energy. This macromolecule includes starches, fiber, and sugars that can be found in various foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and legumes.

Your body uses carbohydrates as its major source of energy. Although the body can also use fat and protein to make fuel, the process is quite long and less efficient.

According to the Institute of Medicine, every individual should get 45 to 65 percent of their daily calorie intake from carbohydrates food sources. More so, the average minimum suggested amount of carbohydrates to take daily is 130 grams.

However, your carb and calories intake depend heavily on your lifestyle, activity level, and your health needs. Generally, if you live a sedentary life, you will need a lower percentage of carbohydrates compared to an individual who engages in regular vigorous activities.

Now, let’s discuss what happens when you cut carbohydrates out completely.

Side effects of cutting out carbs

Cutting out carbohydrates completely from your diet can lead to the development of many side effects and symptoms that can be deadly to your health. Some symptoms may be temporary and clear up as your body adjust, but certain effects are permanent and may cause great damage to your health and wellbeing.

Here are some reasons why cutting out carbs is a bad idea:

Severe headache

When you do not take carbohydrates in your diet, your blood glucose level drops drastically, and this can cause severe headaches. You may experience this ache daily and the severity can increase until you increase your carb intake.

Constipation and dehydration

When you cut carbs out completely, it may lead to constant constipation and dehydration. That’s because your body needs an adequate amount of carbohydrates to operate smoothly.

Most low-carb diets skip foods containing fibers and this promotes constipation. You may even experience intestinal blockage and stomach cramps in extreme cases.

Fatigue, sadness, and depression

Your body needs an adequate amount of carbs to work optimally. When you take out the energy-giving compounds, you are likely to suffer real fatigue and run into depression and sadness.

Also, carbs play a major role in the production of hormones. So when you cut carbs out of your diet, it causes hormonal imbalance that leads to emotional instability.

Bad breath

When your body is deprived of carbohydrates, it switches to using fats as a source of energy through a process called “ketosis.” This process causes the accumulation of ketone bodies that tends to give out a fruity and nail polish remover smell. So, you can expect to have bad breath.

There are other side effects of cutting carbs out completely, including:

• Brain fog
• Heart palpitations
• Leg cramps
• Bloating
• Elevated cholesterol level

When you’re thinking of a long-term way to lose some pounds and maintain your weight, you shouldn’t think of cutting carbs out completely. You’ll be doing more harm to your health if you do so. Instead, you can follow a good diet plan and exercise routine.

You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our Chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC to learn about natural and healthy ways to lose weight and improve your overall health instead of cutting out carbs completely.

 

 

 

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