Tips of Fad Diets—Part 1 Carb restricted or “low carb diets” Diets that severely cut carbohydrate foods from their diet, not only does this sap your energy, it can harm athletic performance. The fact is you need carbohydrates for your brain, heart and muscles, among other vital organs. The main fuel of the brain and central nervous system is glucose, which is easily obtained from carbohydrates. If carbohydrates remain unavailable for several days the body attempts to conserve essential protein by producing an alternative fuel source known as ketones made from the partial burning of fatty acids. As the breakdown continues, these ketones build in the blood causing an abnormal condition known as ketosis. Ketogenic diets make the blood more acidic, upsetting the body’s chemical balance and causing potentially serious and unpleasant side effects like, headaches, bad breath, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. When carbohydrate stores are depleted in the body, the rate at which fat is metabolized is reduced. Carbohydrates are therefore essential in the ability to metabolize fat. However it is true that a large volume of weight will be lost as (stored carbohydrates) depletes in the muscles and liver but this weight is from water loss. This will not help body composition or overall health. The body will rely much more on amino acids (protein) supplied form the breakdown of lean tissue for fuel. So while you may burn some fat you will also burn more muscle.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 22:35:38 +0000
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