Low-carb diets are the most popular. There is a lot of talk about their danger to the body. Find out whether it is worth losing weight without carbohydrates or not? Low-carb nutrition programs work very effectively to help you lose weight. However, nutritionists still cannot make up their minds on recommendations, and many of them are sure that such diets are unsafe for the body. Already from the name it becomes clear that these nutrition programs involve restricting the use of carbohydrates.
There are different types of low-carbohydrate diets, with varying amounts of fat and protein. The most extreme of them can rightfully be considered a nutrition program based on a constant amount of protein compounds and a high fat content. It is called the ketogenic diet.
How the ketogenic diet affects the body
A few days after stopping the use of carbohydrates, the glucose concentration drops to zero and the body can no longer synthesize oxalacetate. This substance is necessary for the reactions of fat oxidation in the Krebs cycle, which takes place in the mitochondria.
At the same time, glucose is not enough for the normal functioning of the brain, which cannot be used as energy by fats. Since the Krebs cycle cannot proceed, acetyl-CoA accumulates in the body. This substance is a source of energy for the Krebs cycle and, at its high concentration, is sent to the liver.
In this organ, another reaction is triggered, called the Linen cycle, during which acetyl-CoA is converted to acetoacetic acid. The reaction does not end there, and its end products are beta-hydrobutyric acid and acetone. It is these three substances (acetoacetic acid and its two metabolites) that are called ketone bodies, and the process of their formation is ketogenesis.
Acetone is removed from the body through the respiratory system, and ketones are then used by the brain for energy. This whole process is accompanied by the mobilization of fatty deposits, which are burned for energy. It should also be noted that during this reaction, glycerin is formed, from which glucose is synthesized, which is then converted into glycogen. In addition, the body also uses some amino acid compounds to accelerate the synthesis of glucose.
Can a Low Carb Diet Be Harmful?
Studies have shown that a ketogenic diet can help you lose about ten percent of your body weight and then maintain it throughout the year. At the same time, a person does not have a feeling of hunger, which is quite important. However, many nutritionists advise taking a break between low-carb meal plans and following the Mediterranean diet during this period. While there is a widespread belief that eating a lot of fat can harm the body, research has shown that when using low-carb nutrition programs, the cholesterol balance shifts towards high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol).
Has a ketogenic diet and its drawbacks. One of these is a strong load on the kidneys due to the use of a large amount of protein compounds. This nutrient has a special metabolism, and this can cause some disorders. These include an increase in blood pressure, which depends on the work of the kidneys. Although in many ketogenic diets, the amount of protein compounds consumed is constant, the risk of developing urolithiasis increases. This is especially true for those athletes who have been using low carbohydrate nutrition programs for a long period of time.
There is scientific evidence that a ketogenic diet can affect bone mineral composition. So far, studies of this fact have been carried out in rats, in which ketogenic metabolism has significant differences from humans. But nevertheless, one should remember about such a possibility. It should also be noted that there are some genetic diseases in which a low-carb diet is contraindicated.
Perfect dietary nutrition programs simply do not exist. This should always be remembered. Any nutrition program can be 100% effective for some people and dangerous for others. Not everything depends on food, but also on genes.
Low Carb Diet Research
In conclusion, I would like to tell you about one large-scale study, which involved more than 900 families in which all members were obese. In the first phase of the experiment, adults followed a low-carb diet for two months. Then those of them who were able to lose weight, as well as children, were divided into several groups who ate different foods.
Scientists observed the subjects for two years and noted all changes in various parameters. After completing the study, maximum weight loss was achieved in a group that ate a large amount of protein compounds, carbohydrates with a low glycemic index, and a small amount of fat.
This diet is very close to low-carb nutrition programs, since some of the carbohydrates have been replaced by protein compounds. It should be admitted that such a diet does not promote rapid weight loss, but is excellent for maintaining it after losing weight.
Today nutritionists are discussing this nutritional program and it is quite possible that it will be recommended for general use in the future. All possible side effects are currently being investigated.
To summarize all of the above, then before starting to use a ketogenic diet, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Losing excess pounds is not as difficult as it seems. The main problem is keeping body weight at the same level.
For more on low-carb diets, see this video:
