It is one of the most popular forms of nutrition and is often used to lose weight: the low-carb diet. We’ll tell you what happens when you drastically reduce your carbohydrate intake.
As tempting as a plate of pasta or a freshly made sandwich is, very few succumb to temptation. And for a very specific reason: Carbohydrates are bad , ruin the figure and otherwise do little for our health. For real? Wrong thought. What happens if you do without carbohydrates, we reveal here.
Table of Contents
These 4 things happen when you eat low carb
1. You lose weight
The main reason for the popularity of low carb is probably the fact that it is relatively easy to lose weight by reducing carbohydrates. This is mainly due to the interaction of blood sugar levels and insulin . In particular, short-chain carbohydrates in the form of sugar lead to a sharp increase in our blood sugar level. This causes the release of insulin, which brings the sugar into the cells of our body. Unfortunately, insulin is also responsible for the storage of fat and the release of insulin stops any fat burning. This is also the reason why frequent snacking leads to a lot of weight gain.
2. You may get indigestion
Here the devil is in the details. Because short-chain carbohydrates in the form of sugar damage the intestinal flora, which is why a low-sugar or no-sugar diet is even good for your digestion. However, complex carbohydrates and fiber are good for digestion and feed your gut bacteria. A omission of whole grain cereals , such as oatmeal or whole grain bread, can therefore damage your digestion and promote constipation . Therefore, especially during a low-carb diet, pay attention to an adequate dietary fiber intake, eg from flaxseed, chia seeds and vegetables .
3. Your athletic performance decreases
Fat plays a major role as an energy source in marathon runs. Without carbohydrates, however, even the best runner cannot perform at their best. In the form of glycogen, carbohydrates provide our muscles with readily available energy, which we can access more easily during physical exertion. If you eat low-carb or even keto , you may experience a severe drop in performance, especially at the beginning.
4. You are tired more often
Just like our muscles, the brain also feeds on carbohydrates. If these are not present in the diet, or only to a very small extent, this can lead to loss of concentration, tiredness and a bad mood. Find out here what can help against constant tiredness >>
