Low-Carb Diet Risks
A low-carb diet offers fast weight loss, but can also bring health risks. Embarking on an extreme low-carb diet can result in a lack of vital nutrients, dehydration and digestive problems, but there are ways to reduce these risks.
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Fast Weight Loss
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Individuals who start a radical low-carb plan, reducing or eliminating carbohydrates in their diet, often experience rapid weight loss. Losing weight very quickly can result in a "yo-yo diet" syndrome. When people lose weight rapidly, they do not build healthy habits for the future, and may return to past eating habits once the weight is lost, which results in weight being regained.
Lack of Nutrients
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A low-carb diet may include very limited fruits, vegetables or grains. These foods all offer vital nutrients, such as vitamin C, which help in the absorption of iron and other components, such as fiber, in the daily diet. Eliminating these foods completely can result in vitamin deficiencies and health problems.
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Dehydration
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A low-carb diet's initial weight loss is due to water weight. In addition, when eating only protein foods, the dieter is not getting as much water intake, as opposed to a dieter eating water-filled fruits and vegetables. If the low-carb dieter does not drink adequate liquids to replace the water that is lost, he is at risk for dehydration.
Digestive Problems
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Low-carb diets reduce or eliminate breads, grains and fiber-rich vegetables from the daily diet. This results in a lack of fiber in the diet that can lead to problems with digestion, such as constipation. Dehydration that can result from a low-carb diet contributes to this problem as well.
Considerations
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In order to address the risks of a low-carb diet, it is important to get medical advice. A doctor can provide information on necessary nutrients for individuals, including supplementation as necessary. Adequate liquid intake can prevent dehydration, and along with fiber supplementation, can help prevent constipation that sometimes results from a low-carb diet.
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