Top 15 Benefits Of Going Low Carb!

There are a great many reasons to go low carb and not all of them have to do with weight. Low carb diets are the hottest thing out there (Kim Kardashian claims she’s lost 70 pounds of baby fat in just a few months on the low carb Atkins 40!).

What are Carbohydrates? Low carb, higher fat diets such as the Ketogenic Diet has been credited for "curing" stretch marks, acne, eczema, discoloration, even keloid scars.

Of course, not everyone will reap all of the following benefits, the same way not everyone who drinks 8 glasses of water everyday will have super clear skin. Everyone’s body is different, so you will react differently than your friend will.

Those who are insulin resistant, are prediabetics, or have metabolic syndrome will get the most benefits, but there are still plenty of benefits to go around for everyone.

Let's take a look at the 15 benefits of going low-carb:

Quick Weight Loss Of course, this is the biggest reason. Most people see results in just a few days and are shocked because they don't feel hungry, like most people do on a low calorie or low fat diet.
Low Carb Kills Appetite One of the worst "side effects", if you will, is being hungry. This is the #1 reason people dump a diet after just a few days. The great news about low carb diets is that you have an automatic reduction in appetite since protein satisfies more than carbohydrates can.
Fat Loss Usually Come from the Belly Believe it or not, all fat is not the same. Fat stored under the skin is less dangerous than fat that is stored in and around the abdominal cavity, usually lodging itself around the vital organs of the body. This is called visceral fat. Visceral fat is like firewood to inflammation in the body, leading to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Low carb diets tend to remove visceral fat first, which will lead to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart disease.
Lower Triglycerides In a nutshell, triglycerides are fat molecules in the blood. The main driver of high triglyceride levels is carb consumption, especially fructose. When people consume a low carb diet, they usually have a dramatic reduction in their blood triglyceride levels. That is a very good thing!
Increase HDL Cholesterol HDL is the good type of cholesterol that your body needs. These types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol to the different parts of the body that need it. HDL also carries cholesterol away from the body and sends it to the liver, where it can be reused. The higher your level of HDL cholesterol, the lower your risk of heart disease.
Lower Blood Sugar and Insulin Insulin is a fat storing hormone. By cutting carbs, you remove the need for high levels of insulin. Lower insulin levels not only mean lower levels of stored fat, but when you cut the body’s need for insulin; you lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Lower Blood Pressure Hypertension is a very important risk factor for a wide range of diseases, including stroke, kidney failure, heart disease, and more. You can reduce the risk of all these diseases simply by following a low carb diet.
Longer Life By lowering your blood pressure, insulin use, weight, and thereby reducing your risk of heart disease (the #1 killer around the world), stroke, kidney failure, and other diseases, it only makes sense that you are adding to your lifespan.
Beat Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic Syndrome is a collection of symptoms which point to greater risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. If a person has all 5 of the following, they are said to have metabolic syndrome: Low HDL levels, Abdominal obesity (visceral fat), High triglyceride levels, High blood pressure, Elevated fasting blood sugar levels. The great news here is that you can improve all of the above 5 symptoms simply by following a low carb diet!
Improvement of LDL Cholesterol LDL is often referred to as the “bad” type of cholesterol. People who have high levels of LDL are known to be at a much higher risk of having a heart attack. In the case of LDL cholesterol, it’s the size of the protein that matters. Larger particles mean a lower risk. Low carb diets turn these little particles of protein into larger pieces, while removing the number of them in the blood at the same time. This lowers your risk of heart attack!
Help Stop Brain Drain While it’s true that the brain needs glucose (sugar) to operate, the truth is that only a part of the brain needs it. If we don't eat carbs, the liver will make glucose for our brain. A large part of our gray matter can also burn ketones as energy. Our body makes ketones when carb intake is very low. This is why children who have epilepsy and don’t respond to medication are often put on a low carb diet. It's believed that if a low carb diet can reduce or stop seizures in children, then they should also work to help other brain problems, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Studies are being done in this area as we speak.
Super Easy to Follow and Understand Almost everyone knows what a carbohydrate is; potatoes, corn, sodas, candy, bread, pasta, cake, crackers, cookies, and things along those lines. It's pretty hard to hide carbohydrates in food the way they can hide trans-fats. If the food is processed, is too starchy (pasta) or too sweet (soda), then it’s got too many carbs. Low carb is eggs and bacon, steak with vegetables covered in real butter, berries with real whipped cream for dessert. That’s a pretty easy diet plan to follow and understand
Eliminate Cravings Well, almost all cravings. It's true that, in the beginning, you might miss out on grandma’s lasagna every Sunday, but the truth is that the more carbs you eat, the more you want. The same is true of sugar. After you stop eating so many carbs, you will find that you don’t really want them any longer. Eating more protein will satisfy you longer than carbs will. You can find substitutes for some foods, such as mashing cauliflower for mashed potatoes, or spiral cut squash in place of pasta. Otherwise, a low carb diet will virtually eliminate 99% of your cravings.
It’s in Your Genes Some genetic researchers believe that eating low carb is literally in our genes. In ancient times, we didn’t sit around eating bread, baking cookies, or sucking on candy. Our constant high consumption of carbohydrates and sugar is simply not natural. Many people find that once they cut out carbs, they feel much better, even before they start to notice that they are losing weight.
Improved Skin Tone If you tend to get acne or other types of breakouts, going low carb will usually take care of the problem. The body converts carbohydrates into sugar very quickly. Sugar tends to feed acne. There are few studies in this area, but many people will attest that clearer skin was an unintended benefit they enjoyed after going low carb.