7 reasons why you should start eating low carb diet
In today's world, low-carb diet plans have become very popular because they help you lose weight. This diet is a way of eating that focuses on consuming more protein while limiting your consumption of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates found in fruits and vegetables are the only ones recommended for the diet.
Humans need carbohydrates, but too many carbohydrates can lead to weight gain. The body uses glucose to produce energy from carbohydrates. If the body is overloaded with carbohydrates, the extra glucose is stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles. As soon as these stores become full, the body converts the excess glucose to fat, which is then stored in adipose tissue. As a result, weight gain occurs over time.
Although a low-carb diet has these scientifically validated benefits, it is always advisable to consult your physician before implementing it, particularly if you suffer from health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes.
1. Regulating sugar levels and blood pressure
It's essential to keep your blood pressure low to reduce your stroke and heart disease risk since hypertension is one of the most substantial risk factors. You can take pills to lower blood pressure, but even following a healthy diet like a low-carb diet can help, especially if you're obese.
In the same way, low carbohydrate diets are also said to be beneficial in reducing fasting glucose levels and glycated hemoglobin levels. Thus, if you are diabetic, you are in a dual-benefit situation because by following a low-carb diet plan, you will lose weight while reducing your blood sugar levels.
2. Defends against insulin resistance
A condition known as insulin resistance occurs when the cells in your muscles, fat, and liver are resistant to insulin and cannot effectively take up glucose from your blood. Because of this, your pancreas produces more insulin to help the glucose enter your cells.
It appears that insulin resistance is associated with cardiovascular disease in people with metabolic syndrome. There is scientific evidence proving that restricting one's carb intake will reduce insulin resistance more effectively than restricting one's fat intake.
3. An effective diet to lose weight
Low-carb diets help you lose weight because they restrict the amount of carbohydrates you eat. This causes your body to burn stored fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight in the long term.
Individuals lose weight at different rates and depend on how determined and effective they are at cutting sugar and carbs from their diets.
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4. Helps regulate triglyceride levels
Lipids or fats in the blood are known as triglycerides. The level of triglycerides in the blood reflects how much fat there is. Heart disease is associated with high triglyceride levels.
Low HDL cholesterol and high triglyceride levels are risk factors for heart disease. They're associated with factors like abnormal lipoprotein metabolism, insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Triglyceride levels can be reduced significantly by cutting carbs.
5. Increases energy
Energy levels are influenced by the food you eat. In digestion, most carbohydrates break down into sugar, which is absorbed into the bloodstream. This causes energy highs and lows.
Metabolism is the process of creating energy. When you switch to a low-carb diet, the metabolism will switch to using fat instead of carbs and sugar for energy. You will also get a steady supply of energy on a low-carb diet all day long because the foods you eat naturally regulate your blood sugar.
Despite being a carbohydrate, fiber does not release sugar into the bloodstream or raise your blood sugar like simple carbs like white bread, pasta, candy, and other junk food do.
The protein in your diet helps stabilize blood sugar levels. It also burns more calories while being digested, which increases your metabolism. You can also build muscles with protein, which has a higher metabolic rate than fat.
6. Supports your mental health
Often, we don't think about the food we eat when it comes to our mental health. Could our eating habits make us anxious, depressed, and overwhelmed? People have discovered that a low-carb diet is beneficial not only to their physical health but also to their mental health.
The effects of a ketogenic diet have been studied and have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms within a few weeks. Scientists believe this occurs because a low-carb diet stabilizes blood sugar levels and reduces inflammation. Chronic inflammation contributes to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Thus, you should switch to a low-carb diet if you have mental health issues. Your mental health might improve!
7. It may help to lower the risk of cancer
The benefits of low-carb diets include cancer prevention. During cancer development, abnormal cells develop in the body and metastasize or spread to other body parts.
The growth of all cancers is dependent on sugar. Because of this, a low-carb diet is a great way to lower your risk of cancer. When you limit your consumption of sugar, you’re also reducing the food available for cancer cells.
Sugar is also pro-inflammatory. When sugar is consumed, cytokines are released, which signal the body to mount an inflammatory response. Additionally, sugar increases free radical production, which damages cells and causes inflammation. Additionally, sugar suppresses immunity, making the body more susceptible to infections and inflammations.
Low-carb diets can also improve your well-being and health. Besides losing weight, they can lower blood sugar and reduce inflammation.
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To sum up
In conclusion, low-carb diets offer a wide range of benefits. Weight loss, cholesterol improvement, and decreased risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes can all be achieved. If you're considering starting a low-carb diet, talk to your doctor first to ensure it's the right choice for you.