The Potential Dangers of Low Carb Diets You Should Know

Every day it seems like a new low carbohydrate/high protein diet appears on the market and sells enough books to end up on the bestseller list. Each of these low carb diets say that they have found the best combination of high protein/low carb meals that will help you shed pounds instantly. The authors of these diets say that when their diets are followed, people will lose weight without much effort-a miracle diet. It certainly sounds great. Who wouldn't want to lose weight without having to do a bunch of work?

The reason these diets should be avoided is that they do help you lose some weight, but not without a variety of damaging side effects. The fact that dieting and nutrition experts have proven that these diets are ineffective should also be taken into serious consideration. These diet plans will help you lose weight-but they won't help you keep the weight from coming back. The truth is, as soon as you start eating carbohydrates again, you'll gain all of your weight right back.

Here are some of the terrible side effects that can come from following a low carbohydrate and high protein diet:

High protein diets force your body to enter into ketosis. Ketosis is when your body excretes acetone in your breath and urine. It can also cause dizziness (caused by the depletion of your body's energy stores), nausea, severe headaches, and high risk of kidney stones (caused by the increased levels of acid that get passed through your kidneys).

The lack of carbohydrates makes you crave sweets, a source of simple carbohydrates which, when introduced into a body following a low carbohydrate diet, can cause the body's blood sugar level to fluctuate wildly. This has an adverse effect on your energy level and moods.

They also deplete your energy levels, causing you to feel exhausted much of the time. This is because your body burns carbohydrates to produce energy. When you don't eat enough carbs, you won't have the energy to exercise-which makes keeping your weight off even harder.

Rapid weight gain. As soon as you start eating carbohydrates again your weight will come back. Recent studies prove that only five percent of those who follow low carbohydrate diets are able to keep the weight from coming back.

Luckily there are plenty of healthy and safe alternatives to these diet plans that will help you lose weight and better still...keep it off!