7 Health Benefits of Low Carb Diet

When I turned to a low carb diet, it was because they had become popular as an effective weight loss method. However, I was thrilled to discover there are also many health benefits to starting a low carb diet.

Higher HDL Cholesterol (good cholesterol)

HDL is known as the “good” cholesterol and LDL is known as the “bad” cholesterol. Recent studies have shown that both low fat and low carb diets decrease LDL, however in combination with the decrease in bad cholesterol, low carb dieters also saw an increase in good cholesterol. Good cholesterol runs through your blood stream and actually helps to remove LDL. As HDL removes LDL it is literally cleaning your blood system lessening your chances of heart disease and stroke.

Weight Management

As I discovered, low carb diets are the perfect diet if you have tried to lose weight and failed in the past. Because a low carb diet offers so many tasty options, it is very easy to adopt for both weight loss and weight management. There is a combination of factors that add to the effectiveness of the low carb diet:

• Protein consumed in a low carb diet keeps you feeling full longer, so you eat less.
• Because you are feeling fuller for a longer period of time you also are less likely to want to cheat.
• A low carb diet allows you to burn energy as opposed to store fat.
• The protein in a low carb diet helps to jump start your metabolism.

Nutrition

The low carb diet also offers you a balanced diet. Eating fresh meat, fish, vegetables and dairy offers you not only healthy choices, but reasonable portions and a wide variety of foods and meals that keep you satisfied as they are a pleasure to consume. The key is to eat less bad carbs and more good protein combined good carbs which include:

• Low glycemic fresh fruits, like apricots, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries
• Non-starchy vegetables, asparagus, green beans, broccoli
• Nuts
• Unsweetened dairy products, such as yogurt, sour cream, cheese

Lower Blood Pressure

Lower blood pressure due to weight loss is common, regardless of diet. However studies have shown that half of those who used a low carb diet were able to discontinue their blood pressure medications compared to only 21 percent of those who used a low fat diet.

Lower blood insulin level

Insulin is a hormone your body uses to store fat. The more bad carbohydrates you eat the higher your blood insulin level. Low carb diets lower your insulin levels by cutting out bad carbs including:

• Refined grains like white bread, white rice and enriched pasta
• Cake, candy cookies and chips
• White potatoes
• Sweetened soft drinks
• Sugar

Improved Triglycerides

Triglycerides are storage fats that travel in your blood stream. Low carb diets reduce triglycerides with the consumption of a lot of meats, green leafy vegetables and low carb fruits.

Reduce Blood Glucose for Diabetics

Because eating less carbs lowers your insulin levels, you are better equipped to keep your blood glucose levels under control which is an important factor if you have diabetes.

As you can see there are many incentives to start a low carb diet and set yourself on the path for a healthier lifestyle.