Are Low Carb Diets Bad?

Low carb diets, as with many other diets, can be healthy or unhealthy depending on the version of the diet that is followed. In addition, some individuals respond better to a low carb diet than other individuals. Low carb diets are helpful in managing diabetes and epilepsy, and have been shown to improve cholestrol.

Diabetes

Carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels, which is dangerous for diabetics, who have high blood sugar anyway. Reducing carbohydrate intake, and substituting complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables, for simple carbs, such as white bread, will improve a diabetic's blood sugar management.

Epilepsy

A ketogenic diet, in which carbohydrate consumption is extremely low, is used to treat epilepsy. When the amount of carbohydrate in the diet is low enough that it cannot provide energy for daily activities, the body goes into ketosis. During ketosis, stored energy is converted into glucose to provide energy to the body. While extremely low carb diets have been used to treat epilepsy since the 1920's, science has not yet determined the reason for the success of this treatment.

Cholesterol

Most people experience changes in their cholesterol levels after starting a low carb diet. Individual response may vary, but often, HDL levels increase, while triglycerides drop. While the cumulative change may be a higher overall cholesterol level, HDL cholesterol is the type of cholesterol that is also known as "good cholesterol," so this change is a positive one.

Moderation

Eating a low carb diet, when approached in a moderate manner, can be a healthy choice. Substituting green leafy vegetables for french fries, whole grains for white bread, and naturally sweet fruits and berries for candy and other sugary treats, is a lower carb eating plan that provides more nutrients and a healthier diet.

Medical Supervision

When making any extreme changes to diet, such as starting a low carb diet, it is important to visit a doctor beforehand, to ensure that it is a healthy choice. In addition, a doctor can monitor weight loss, blood sugar, and overall health to ensure that the necessary nutrients are being consumed to maintain good health.