http://www.carveoutcarbs.com/low-carbohydrate-diet.html A low carbohydrate diet has benefits and drawbacks. Read a brief synopsis of both before you start a low carbohydrate diet. en-us Mon, 26 Sep 2005 11:34:58 EDT Mon, 26 Sep 2005 11:34:58 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 There are a lot of benefits--and drawbacks--of being on a low carbohydrate diet. It depends on a lot of different things. And you'll get a lot of different answers about which is best depending on who you ask. There are many schools of thought on the topic. On this page, we'll outline both. Benefits of a Low Carbohydrate Diet Most people go on a low carbohydrate diet because they see how successful others have been with it. It seems like the fashionable way to lose weight. Here are some of the benefits of a low carbohydrate diet: The weight just seems to melt off--and fast You feel less hungry and have fewer appetite swings because your blood glucose levels are stabilized You burn more fat, which raises your metabolic rate, making it easier to lose weight Your cholesterol is improved and your triglycerides are lower Drawbacks of a Low Carb Diet Most of the time, a low carbohydrate diet can still be healthy--if it's not taken to extremes, such as on the first two weeks of a diet like Atkins. During that time, your carb intake is limited to 20 grams of carbs a day. This can be very difficult since most of us are accustomed to have having well over that. Our bodies only need 130 grams of carbs a day. But most of us eat well above that. Cutting your carbs that drastically can lead to: Constipation due to a lack of fiber from fruits and vegetables Dehydration due to the fact that most of the weight you lose is the water weight in carbs Ketosis, which is a state where your body is burning fat instead of carbs Lack of concentration due to ketosis Bad breath due to ketosis In addition, if you ever stop your low carbohydrate diet, you're likely to gain your weight back--and then some! The Moral of the Story.... Do your homework before you start a low carb diet to see if it's right for you. Mon, 26 Sep 2005 11:34:58 EDT