Are Low Carb Diets Healthy?

Finding a diet that works best for your body can involve trial and error, but once you find a diet that does work well for your body and your lifestyle, staying in peak physical health becomes much easier. We explain what a low-carb diet entails, who it might be good for and who it might not work well for.

What is a Low-Carb Diet?

A low-carb diet is a diet that involves limiting carbohydrates and filling up with healthy fats and protein instead. Common examples of carbohydrate-rich foods include rice, bread, beans, potatoes and popcorn. Things like soda, sugar and lots of desserts are also high in carbohydrates. 

A low-carb diet focuses on getting calories from food items that mostly consist of healthy fats and protein. Things like avocados, meats, olive oil, eggs and tofu, among others. Low-carb diets also utilize lots of vegetable consumption as they are relatively low in carb and provide lots of micronutrients that the body needs. 

Who Might Benefit From a Low-Carb Diet?

The Harvard School of Public Health has found that low-carb diets can be beneficial for those trying to lose weight and for those who are susceptible to heart disease. In several studies, it has been found that low-carb and Mediterranean-style diets were highly beneficial when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off. 

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “the low-carb diet was most beneficial for lowering triglycerides, the main fat-carrying particle in the bloodstream and also delivered the biggest boost in protective HDL cholesterol.” For these reasons, those who are at risk for heart disease might want to consider implementing a low-carb lifestyle. 

Who Should Avoid a Low-Carb Diet?

While a low-carb lifestyle can be beneficial for some, eating this way can do more damage than good for others. Harvard Medical School published an article in which they cautioned against certain people eating a keto lifestyle. The keto diet is a version of a low-carb diet that focuses on getting the body into a state of ketosis which means your body is burning fat for energy. 

Harvard Medical School states that the keto diet has been linked with “an increase in “bad” LDL cholesterol” and has been associated with other risks including nutrient deficiency, liver problems, kidney problems, constipation and fuzzy thinking and mood swings. 

Along with this, athletes and those who live a very active lifestyle will generally need to eat carbohydrates to give their body the energy it needs since they have such a high energy output. Low-carb diets aren’t generally suggested for those with highly active lifestyles. 

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