5 Benefits of low carb diet
Low carbohydrate diet mainly consist of protien and fat containing products. If only a few carbohydrates are added to the body, it is forced to use stored fat to generate energy. A low carb diet not only causes more weight loss but also leads to major improvements in most risk factors for heart disease — including cholesterol.
1. Increased Levels of ‘Good’ HDL Cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often called the “good” cholesterol. The higher your levels of HDL relative to “bad” LDL, the lower your risk of heart disease. One of the best ways to increase “good” HDL levels is to eat fat — and low carb diets include a lot of fat.
2. Reduced Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels
Low carb and ketogenic diets can also be particularly helpful for people with diabetes and insulin resistance, which affect millions of people worldwide. Studies prove that cutting carbs lowers both blood sugar and insulin levels drastically. Some people with diabetes who begin a low carb diet may need to reduce their insulin dosage by 50% almost immediately.
3. May Lower Blood Pressure
Elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, is a significant risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. Low carb diets are an effective way to lower blood pressure, which should reduce your risk of these diseases and help you live longer.
4. Low-Carb Diets Reduce Your Appetite
Hunger tends to be the worst side effect of dieting. It is one of the main reasons why many people feel miserable and eventually give up. However, low carb eating leads to an automatic reduction in appetite. Studies consistently show that when people cut carbs and eat more protein and fat, they end up eating far fewer calories.
5. Low-Carb Diets Lead to More Weight Loss
Cutting carbs is one of the simplest and most effective ways to lose weight. Studies illustrate that people on low carb diets lose more weight, faster, than those on low-fat diets even when the latter are actively restricting calories. This is because low carb diets act to rid excess water from your body, lowering insulin levels and leading to rapid weight loss in the first week or two. Comparing low carb and low-fat diets, people restricting their carbs sometimes lose 2–3 times as much weight without being hungry.