Key Benefits Of Low-carb Diet For Obesity, Diabetes And Cardiac Patients

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A Low-carb diet is a diet that focuses on the reduced intake of carbohydrates such as sugar-sweetened sodas, soft drinks, bread, grains, pasta, and cookies. Simultaneously, it involves an increased intake of proteins and non-starchy vegetables. It has been recommended by doctors for a number of diseases.

For a long time, it has been suggested by numerous doctors for patients of diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. All of these diseases can be alleviated by following a low-carb diet. Here, we explore the potential benefits that such a diet will provide to its users, and how it can help control these diseases.

 

For Obesity Patients

 

A low-carb diet is a diet that must be rigidly followed by people aiming to tackle obesity. The fundamental benefit for these people is obviously substantial weight loss, the primary aim of most obesity patients following a low-carb diet. Following a low-carb diet, coupled with extensive workout and physical activity, can reduce calories by a considerable amount. Reducing intake, in nutrition, of almost 500-750 fewer calories per day ends up resulting in a profound weight loss of 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.5 to 0.7 Kilograms) per week. Although cutting calories per day is a useful step towards achieving significant weight loss over a short period of time, the technique is not applicable for longer periods, such as those periods ranging from 12 to 24 months.

Apart from cutting calories, low-carb diets also result in a significant depletion of glycogen stores in the body, which results in a considerable loss of water weight and increases the effects of weight loss further.

Moreover, lowering your carbohydrate intake is also beneficial in terms of enhancing fat burning and reducing body fat. Medical professionals identify this as a physiological process known as ketosis, which occurs as the body shifts from glucose to fat as the primary energy source.

A low-carb diet requires an increased intake of protein and fat. These biological molecules provide feelings of fullness, satisfaction, and energy in the body that result in a reduced appetite for low-carb diet followers. As a result, fewer calories are consumed by the body.

A decrease in metabolic diseases also takes place. Low-carb diets are highly successful at minimizing visceral fat, a type of fat associated with an increased risk of the development of metabolic diseases. This particular decrease in abdominal fat also helps to reduce the risk of developing other medical complications as a result of obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and various types of cancers.

 

For Cardiovascular Disease Patients

 

In the case of patients with cardiovascular disease, a low-carb diet is highly beneficial to ease the risks associated with cardiac health.

An important biological molecule responsible for the development of cardiovascular diseases is triglyceride. The most effective advantage of following a low-carb diet is a marked decrease in blood triglyceride levels. Simultaneously, cholesterol is another biochemical whose quantity is substantially impacted by following a low-carb diet. HDL Cholesterol, characterized as "good" cholesterol, experiences a considerable boost while LDL Cholesterol, characterized as "bad" cholesterol, reduces in harm and effectiveness. This ultimately leads to risk factors for cardiovascular diseases scaling down by a sizable amount.

Aside from impacting the quantity and effectiveness of certain biological molecules, a low-carb diet also helps lower blood pressure for patients suffering from any cardiovascular disease. Lowered blood pressure reduces strain on the human heart, reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks, and produces a marked decrease in hypertension. Moreover, a low-carb diet also causes a significant decrease in the levels of insulin in blood flow. This process results in more balanced sodium levels in the blood and thus causes a reduction in blood pressure as well.

Furthermore, low-carb diets also reduce arterial stiffness, a condition in which the blood vessels become thick and hard and impact blood pressure. This results in improved elasticity of blood vessels, leading to well-regulated blood pressure. Endothelial functions and flexibility of blood vessels are also maintained, allowing proper blood flow to take place and improved blood vessel functioning.

Another risk associated with cardiovascular diseases is chronic inflammation, which contributes to diseases like atherosclerosis and other heart conditions. But following a low-carb diet is beneficial to arterial health as it reduces inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and improves the health of blood vessel linings, leading to smooth blood flow. Low-carb diets are also rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients with low processed and refined sugars. This is fundamental to reducing systemic inflammation of blood vessels and helps keep blood pressure and heart health under control.

Blood sugar is also controlled by following a low-carb diet. As the sugar levels are gradually stabilized and insulin spikes lowered, damage to blood vessels and heart muscles is substantially reduced. This ends up lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease complications, like diabetes, occurring as well.

 

For Diabetes Patients

 

So far, we have discussed the benefits of following a low-carb diet for patients of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. We now look at the key benefits of following a low-carb diet for diabetic patients.

First and foremost, and as mentioned before, a low-carb diet controls blood sugar levels by a considerable amount. Post-meal glucose spikes reduce sufficiently as the intake of glucose in the body decreases. This marked reduction of carbohydrate intake also reduces the demand for insulin in the body, which is specifically helpful for type 2 diabetes patients. When blood sugar levels are maintained at a consistent level, they also reduce the risk of developing diseases like hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The overall glycemic levels are well controlled, allowing patients to live their normal lives efficiently.

Secondly, as the blood sugar levels are controlled and maintained inside a safe range, the chance of developing other diabetes complications, such as nerve damage and kidney disease, also reduces. This occurs because of a notable decrease in HbA1c test levels, a blood test that measures the amount of glucose levels in the blood over a span of two to three months.

Thirdly, stable and controlled blood sugar levels are also effective in enhancing energy levels of the body and ensuring mental clarity. This leads to improved mental focus and reduced energy crashes, meaningfully impacting the lives of many diabetic patients.

Moreover, as mentioned before, following a low-carb diet also results in the effective burning of visceral fat around the abdominal area. This fat is particularly linked to insulin resistance in the body and its reduction allows the body to use insulin more effectively. The demand for insulin in the body is lowered and sugar levels in the blood are controlled. Furthermore, improved insulin utilization due to a lowered carbohydrate intake decreases the strain on pancreatic beta cells, further improving the efficiency of insulin and reversing early-stage insulin resistance.

Lastly, following a low-carb diet also allows patients to experience a curtailed usage of diabetes medications. This decreased dependency on medications is vital for type 2 diabetes patients. For them, it serves as an important stepping stone towards complete remission and removal of the need for any medication altogether.

In conclusion, low-carb diets are highly effective at curtailing the impact of numerous prominent diseases, out of which obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, have been mentioned in this blog. Reducing carbohydrate intake is an important step toward improving health conditions in these diseases. It is also an overall beneficial action in life that ultimately leads to a healthy lifestyle, improved medical conditions, and a prolonged lifespan.