No Carb Zone: 7 Things that may happen when you cut out carbohydrates

No Carb Zone: 7 Things that may happen to your body once you give up carbs

Shona Menon

16 May 2018

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Weight loss
Giving up carbohydrates immediately makes you burn more fat, as your calorie intake is being reduced, which forces your body to burn stored fat. A high-carb diet also retains water in your body so going carb-free will make you lose water weight and a couple of pounds.

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Weight gain
Losing water weight is just a temporary solution and you could gain your weight back as going on a carb-free diet can cause cravings for high-fat foods. It’s okay to indulge in these foods but eat them in moderation, as they are harder to burn than carbohydrates.

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Bad breath
Remember how cutting carbohydrates can make you lose excess water weight? Even though that may make you lose a few pounds, it will also dehydrate your body and cause dry mouth, which results in bad breath.

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Fatigue
Carbohydrates are stored as glycogen, which is the source of energy for your brain. When you cut out carbs, your body needs time to get used to the dip in energy, which causes fatigue.

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Hair loss
With any diet change, hair loss is a common side effect. Luckily, it isn’t too obvious and it normally lasts for the first three months of your new diet. Keep your locks healthy by treating it with a hair mask every week.

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Sugar cravings
We think it’s safe to say sugar is highly addictive and this craving will increase when you cut out carbs. Since refined carbs are high in sugar, going cold turkey may make you go into a sugar frenzy. There’s not much you can do to help the chocolate cookie and donut cravings but if you stick it out, your body will eventually adapt.

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Flatter stomach
This may be one of the first physical changes you may notice when you cut out carbohydrates. When you replace carbs with high-fibre foods like vegetables and beans, your gut will feed off the fibre and promote a lean tummy.

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Thinking of going on a ‘no carb diet’? You may want to take a look at these side effects before completely cutting out carbs.

Carbohydrates definitely have a bad rep when it comes to weight gain. There are tons of diets out there and most of them require to reduce carbohydrate consumption, but it’s never advisable to cut-out an entire food group. However, those who are determined to lose the pounds for a slender body may result to completely cutting out carbs.

Carbohydrates are actually essential to our body as they provide the most energy that keeps us alert and on the ball. Taking out carbs from your diet may make you a few pounds lighter, but there are also side effects that aren’t too pleasant.

Nutritionists always recommend a well-balanced diet and to incorporate every food group into your meal. But if you’re still convinced that cutting out carbs is the way to go, check out what may happen to your body from the change in diet.

Shona Menon

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