Some of the most popular diets focus on eliminating foods from the diet. Many diets eliminate processed foods, sugar, dairy, and even cooked foods. But what happens when you eliminate entire macronutrients?
Introducing: The No-Carb Diet.
What is a no-carb diet?
that much No Carbs or Zero Carbs The diet is literally about not consuming any carbohydrates at all.
And this does not mean simply cutting out bread or grain products. All plants contain some form of carbohydrates. Therefore, fruits, most vegetables, and plant foods are effectively excluded from this diet. You can also say goodbye to beans, yogurt, and milk with a carbohydrate-free plan.
Most of the foods in our diet are animal products.
“It’s all about fat and protein, so things like meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, cheese, butter, and oil,” says Catherine Basbaum, a registered dietitian with MyFitnessPal. “But people on no-carb diets allow small amounts of non-starchy vegetables, like lettuce and spinach.”
No-Carb vs. Low-Carb: What’s the Difference?
There are already a ton of low-carb diets to choose from. Atkins, ketogenic, paleo, South Beach, whatever. But the difference between a low-carb diet and a no-carb diet is in the name.
A low-carb diet allows for some carbs. It drastically reduces the amount of carbs you can eat in a day, but still allows for net carbs. Pure Carbohydrates Calculate total carbohydrates by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols. Fiber is still a carbohydrate, but UCLA HealthThey don’t affect blood sugar levels as much as regular carbohydrates.
There is a variation Atkins dietThis ranges from 20g to 100g of net carbs per day. General carbohydrate guidelines are: Ketogenic diet Limit net carbs to less than 50g per day, or carbs should make up less than 10% of your daily food intake. This is compared to the goal of a no-carb diet of 0g net carbs. Carnivore dietThere really is a huge difference.
Potential Benefits
Some people report notable short-term weight loss while on a no-carb diet, but Basbaum says this is just “weight of water.”
“How restrictive is this diet? It’s really unsustainable. It’s important to remember that a balanced diet that doesn’t eliminate or degrade entire nutrients (in this case carbohydrates) is actually important. The best way Make sure you’re getting all the nutrients and fiber your body needs to function at optimal levels.”
Fun fact: Did you know that MyFitnessPal connects you with content from registered dietitians and nutritionists for free? Download the app today!
disadvantage
Basbaum said it’s hard to believe that this diet is a sustainable, long-term solution because it’s so high in fat.
“Most of the fat you consume on a carbohydrate-free diet is likely to be saturated fat (the kind found in meat, cheese, and butter), and we A diet high in saturated fat increases “bad” LDL cholesterol.If you follow this diet Increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.“
Plus, there aren’t many other foods you can eat on this diet to balance out the high fat intake.” Energy level, healthy digestion, Focus and Productivityand health “If your body lacks a healthy balance of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, everything is likely to suffer,” Basbaum said.
Is it worth it?
Basbaum says: I wouldn’t recommend it.
“We don’t have studies that support long-term weight loss or health benefits,” she says. “Plus, the potential negative health consequences outweigh the unsustainable weight loss you might experience in the early stages of a diet.”
There are ways to safely reduce your carbohydrate intake without completely eliminating macronutrients, and there are ways to lose weight safely and sustainably over time. Talk to your doctor before starting a new diet to make sure it’s right for you.
One thing that might help? Start tracking your food intake. MyFitnessPal. Set macro goals, find recipes, and get the nutrition information you need to succeed.
