You might be toying with the idea of going on a low carb diet. With a low carb diet, you limit the number of carbohydrates you eat and instead give yourself more fats and proteins. This probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard about low carb diets; there are more than enough to try out. Typically, people use a low carb diet to lose weight, but could other health benefits come with a diet like this? We took a look to see what other benefits are out there if you choose a low carb diet. Here are six benefits of a low carb diet.
1. You’ll Lose More Weight At First
Let’s make this clear. Yes, if you go on a low carb diet, you’ll shed the pounds, but that is only at the beginning of your diet. Studies show that people who partake in a low carb diet will lose more weight faster, and this is because the diet will help you lose excess water from your body. Please remember, though, a low carb diet is not sustainable to all and shouldn’t be used long term for weight loss.
2. Triglycerides Can Drop Drastically
Triglycerides are the fat molecules in your bloodstream, and they are known to be a strong heart disease risk factor. People who are sedentary and consume a lot of carbs have a higher number of triglycerides, especially if they consume simple sugar fructose.
When people cut carbs, they tend to have a dramatic reduction in their blood triglycerides, which means we could be lowered the risk of heart disease. It is to be noted, though, low-fat diets can cause triglycerides to increase.
3. HDL (Good) Cholesterol Increases – 6 Benefits of a Low Carb Diet
High-density lipoprotein, HDL, is the good cholesterol that runs through your body. The higher your HDL is, the better it is for you since it is known to help lower your risk of heart disease. An excellent way to increase your HDL is to eat good fats, and with a low carb diet, we see a lot of fat consumption.
It has been seen that HDL levels dramatically increase with a low carb diet but make sure the fats you are eating are right for you and not just something that tastes really good.
4. Better Blood Sugar Control
This is probably one of the best reasons to consider a low carb diet. If you are someone with diabetes, a low carb diet can help you manage your symptoms. Studies have proven that cutting carbs can help lower both blood sugar and insulin levels.
Some people reported a reduction of 50% in their insulin dosage almost immediately after starting a low carb diet. Another study showed that type 2 diabetes had a 95% reduction or a complete elimination of their glucose-lowering medication within six months.
Make sure to talk to your doctor before considering a low carb diet to help with your diabetes.
5. Lower Blood Pressure
Many of us have high blood pressure or hypertension. With high blood pressure, it puts at risk for a lot of diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Studies have shown that a low carb diet has helped lower blood pressure in some people. This means it can reduce your risk for disease and help you live longer.
6. Helps with Several Brain Disorders – 6 Benefits of a Low Carb Diet
Brains are cool but weird, and certain parts of your brain need glucose to function. Your brain also can burn ketones, which your body produces when you take carbs away. Because of this, studies have shown that a low carb diet, or a keto diet, can help people who suffer from brain disorders like epilepsy.
A study showed that over half the children that were on the keto diet experienced a greater than 50% reduction in their numbers of seizures, and 16% became seizure-free. These children did not respond well to medication prior to the change in their diet.
This study is new, and more studies are being conducted to see how a low card diet can help with other brain conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Low carb diets can benefit you a lot more than just losing weight. People who have no weight to lose can still benefit on a low carb diet, and those trying to better their general health can see that cutting those carbs could help them live a little longer.