When you are trying to lose weight, it is common that you will cut back on sugar, salt, fats, and even fried food.
To assist in your weight plan, you might even totally cut out carbohydrates from your diet which does have a detrimental effect on your body.
It is common for one to link carbohydrates to rice, noodles, buns. But many time ado, while trying to lose weight, salad will be the go-to option and eliminate carbohydrates. Over time, visible results can be soon but so does the decline in your health, reason being the side effects towards your body when it is lacking in carbohydrates!
Here are some of the commonly seen side effects:
Malnutrition
When you cut down/eliminate carbohydrates from you diet, this forces your body to convert protein into energy sustaining your daily need. However, by doing so, there will be a drastic drop in the amount of protein available for your body to use and repair resulting in symptoms such as hair loss, decreased immune system, irregular period etc.
Body Fatigue
The role of carbohydrates is to provide energy to the body and cells which will be burnt off through daily activities. But when there is a lack of carbohydrates, this implies that the body has nothing to burn from therefore naturally one will feel exhausted and drowsy.
Bad breath
How is it relevant to bad breath? You must be wondering. Your saliva consist of anaerobic bacteria whereas when your body has to tap into fats and proteins to produce energy, it will naturally produce amino acid. When amino acid and anaerobic bacteria meets, it forms a noxious sulfur compound which can be smelled from the breath.
Muscle loss
Due to the lack of carbohydrates, your body will naturally tap into fats and proteins to sustain your day-to-day body functions. Protein which plays a main role in muscle growth and repair, when muscles are being converted into energy you will experience muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy implies that you will experience loss of strength, loss of neuromuscular condition, loss of endurance and an increased in injury risk.
Depression
Carbohydrates releases serotonin. By having a meal rich in carbs, your body releases insulin which enables amino acid tryptophan to enter your brain to produce serotonin which makes you feel good. Thus, by cutting out carbs, you will experience nutritional deficiencies which are linked to depression. Also, now you will know the reason why is it that can turn from moody to happy just via a meal!
So, you got to think twice before eliminating carbohydrates from your daily diet. If you are looking to lose weight, you can always substitute rice, noodles with corn, oats and mixed grains which not only controls your daily intake but also the amount of nutrients needed. If you have any substitutes in mind, feel free to speak to our therapist to get professional guidance and tips!