All About What Low Carb Diets Are and How They Work
Low carb diets have become a popular means of losing weight, but what exactly are they and why would you try them? Here’s a breakdown of what it means to go low carb:
Low carb diets are diets that rely on high fat and protein while limiting carbohydrate intake. That means foods like bread, potatoes, or tortillas are removed from the diet plan or replaced with low carb options. Meanwhile, foods like meat, cheese and eggs are included more for their protein and fat value.
The Process of Carbs
To understand why people choose to go low carb, first think about what happens to carbs when they enter the body. When carbs enter your body, they turn into glucose. Glucose is used as energy for the body. That sounds good,
right? Unfortunately, people overload by taking in more than they put out. They’re eating carbs without using the energy, and the excess amount is becoming a big part of their weight gain. Another consideration is that processed carbs, found in sugars and some grains, can cause a spike in your blood sugar. This leaves people feeling hungry and puts them at risk for future diseases.
Protein and Fat
Protein is the smart option if you want to be more satisfied with less food. High protein foods don’t go through the digestive system as quickly as carbs. You can stay full for longer. It takes more energy to digest protein than carbs too. That means you’re burning more calories just digesting your food. You’re food is doing the energy-burning for you.
Recommending high fat intake can shock people because fat is fat, isn’t it? It’s not. There is saturated fat and unsaturated fat. Saturated fat is what you need for low carb diets. It’s what some call the “good fat” that can help raise “good cholesterol,” the cholesterol that safely lives in all cells and can be regulated by the body. The stored fat in your body is also a source of energy. You eat healthy, high-fat foods, and you can pull the energy from your waistline.
So if you’re unsure of starting low carb diets, think closely of the processes happening within your body. Are you burning the carbs you take in? Are you staying hungry after a full meal? Are foods high in protein and fat the right option for you? For many, it has been the perfect option.
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