Cons of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet

Low-carbohydrate dieting was introduced during the mid 1800s. Since then low-carb fads have come and gone. The most recent incarnation appeared in the 1990s and has been championed under a variety of names such as the Atkins Diet and the Glycemic Index. Its basic premise is that refined carbohydrates lead to the overproduction of insulin and contribute to fat storage. Low-carbohydrate dieting comes with some substantial health risks.

Ketosis

• The body burns carbohydrates for fuel under normal circumstances. It goes into a state called ketosis and begins to burn its own fat for fuel if carbohydrates are not provided. Ketones, which are small carbon fragments formed by the breakdown of fat stores, form in the blood during ketosis and provide energy for the body. The body burns these fat stores instead of carbohydrates for fuel, resulting in weight loss. Ketosis has some serious consequences, according to Web MD. A prolonged state of ketosis reduces the appetite, but it also causes bad breath and nausea. Ketosis causes kidney stones, loss of calcium from the bones, an arthritic inflammatory condition called gout and major organ failure in the long term.

Nutritional Imbalance

• According to exercise physiologist and fitness author Greg Landry, low-carbohydrate diets are low in fiber and high in fat. A lack of dietary fiber increases the risk for digestive cancers and heart problems. It also adds to the risk of digestive problems such as constipation. He indicates that low carbohydrate diets do not contain enough plant-based nutrients and antioxidants that prevent heart disease and cancer. In addition, Americans already eat too much protein as it is, which puts them at risk for kidney problems and osteoporosis, among other health conditions. Finally, he states that it is unhealthy to eat large amounts of fat. High fat diets lead to a higher risk of certain types of arthritis, gall stones, stroke and heart disease, as well as digestive cancers.

Assorted Health Problems

• In 2002 the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine developed the pilot version of an online registry for people who have suffered health problems related to low-carbohydrate dieting. Their website asked about problems such as osteoporosis, increased cholesterol levels and kidney problems. By December 2003, 429 individuals had responded. Many of the respondents indicated that they had experienced more than one health issue while on low-carbohydrate diet programs. Eighty-nine percent of registrants indicated reduced kidney function, and 40 percent reported a lack of energy. Thirty-three percent indicated cardiovascular disease. Twenty-nine percent indicated difficulty concentrating. Four percent of registrants reported being diagnosed with cancer, while one percent indicated a diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Other reported conditions included gout, gallbladder issues and constipation.