The world has been awash with different types of diets for decades. If truth be told, dieting has been around for well over a hundred years, and possibly the very first one is still popular today.
Back in 1863, in England, one man helped introduce the world to what may well be the first low-carb diet. Indeed, it may be the first time anyone wrote any type of instructions for dieting at all.
William Banting cut out a variety of items from his daily life for one year. Out went beer, potatoes, bread, butter, milk, and sugar, and over that period he lost a considerable amount of weight.
Banting’s recollection of how he lost 50 pounds over the space of one year soon made its way over the pond to the US. By the early 1900s, many miracle cures found their way onto the market including soaps that promised to wash away fat.
Fad diets and useless equipment such as the Bowflex, continue to hit the streets and the internet, but the low-carb diet is still here. Did William Banting have a point, or is a low-carb diet bad for your health?
Everybody is Banting
William Banting’s name became synonymous with dieting to the point that any one time someone was abstaining they would say they were ‘Banting’.
Much later, in modern times, the name that became linked most to low-carb diets was Atkins. It was very common for some time to hear people saying that they were doing the Atkins. Many people lost weight this way, and many gained it back later.
Now it is clear that there are many side effects to eating too many carbs. You may not be aware just how many issues carbs can bring though, and they include sluggishness, fatigue, weight gain and loss, and molar cavities.
There are a huge amount of different diets and plans for people to try, but the low-carb diet remains popular. What good can it do though?
Are there any health benefits to a low-carb diet?
One of the hardest parts of dieting is the ever-present feeling of hunger pangs or cravings. Changing your lifestyle often takes a huge amount of willpower and can be a genuine struggle to stick to the new plan. Especially when your brain is telling you that just one chocolate chip cookie won’t be too bad.
Low-carb diets have the benefit of reducing hunger pangs by their very nature. A diet that is high in carbohydrates often leads the individual to want more food. Lower carbohydrate diets by comparison include more protein and fat which leads to a feeling of being full.
A diet lower in carbs can also help get rid of the dangerous fat that is located around the abdomen. Therefore this lowers a person’s chances of getting heart disease or diabetes.
These diets tend to lower blood pressure and improve both blood sugar and cholesterol. The bottom line for many is that they also lead to rapid weight loss, at least at the beginning.
Are there any dangers to a low-carb diet?
There is some talk that a low-carb diet could be bad for the heart. One report has shown some associations with keto diets and problems with heart failure and stroke in later life.
Many medical professionals believe a low-carb diet can be dangerous and should be avoided. The risks that have been reported are an increased chance of having cardiovascular conditions and cancer.
One report stated that when it came to people eating a very low-carb diet, there was an 8% increase in the risk of dying from cancer. There was also a 13% increase in the chance of them dying from heart-related problems, and a 15% higher chance of them dying younger from any cause.
What is the best way to use a low-carb diet?
Before embarking on any diet it may be wise to consult qualified professionals. If the purpose of a diet is for weight loss then exercise combined with a balanced diet is usually the best option.
A fitness professional and your own doctor should be able to advise on the right course of action, and health risks associated with it. If you are going to embark on a low-carb diet then there are healthy ways to reduce carbohydrates and still make tasty, healthy foods.
Over the last decade, multi cookers such as the Instant Pot have become extremely popular. Part of the reason that these appliances have appeared in so many kitchens is that they can produce meals with very little fuss.
That popularity has led to masses of online help and resources such as this low-carb recipe from Corrie Cooks. There are many other keto and low-carb recipes all over the internet, and a multi-cooker can help you make them easily and quickly.
One of the problems with dieting can be all the fuss and preparation so finding a good gadget or appliance like this could really help.
What are the problems with sticking to a low-carb diet?
Part of the issue with sticking to a new diet is that you are cutting out many things that your body is used to. It is quite likely that you are also removing a lot of food items that you truly enjoy too.
Portion control and calorie counting can also be frustrating and time-consuming. There are handy alternatives to counting calories such as using your hand to measure how much you should consume regarding fats, carbs, and proteins.
With a low-carb diet though, you should see results very quickly which is why many people find the motivation to stick to them. The initial problems will be with your body adjusting to losing its normal fuel source. This may lead to irritation and mood swings, plus a feeling of being mentally tired. This will after your body switches away from expecting carbs to more protein.
Celebrity endorsements for low-carb diets
No diet would be complete without a movie star or musician coming forward and praising their newfound weight loss plan. There are plenty of famous people who have enjoyed talking about their use of keto and low-calorie diets but one person stands literally head and shoulders above the rest.
The boxer, Tyson Fury, stands at an impressive 2.06 meters and is a huge advocate of the low-carb diet for losing weight.
Fury was massively overweight after a lengthy layoff from the sport while dealing with personal issues but came back in impressive form. The world champion used a ‘dirty keto’ diet that allowed items normally not allowed such as butter, to lose an incredible 30 pounds in just 30 days.
He then went on to lose a total of 125 pounds over a period of two years. He is also the current holder of the WBC belt along with the Ring Magazine belt.
Summary
While the jury is out on whether a low-carb diet can be harmful to long-term health it is clear that carrying excess fat will be detrimental. A low-carb diet can help shed weight fast and if managed correctly alongside a good exercise routine, it may be the answer that some are looking for.
Cooking low-carb healthy meals while improving cardio fitness in or out of the gym could be a good approach for many, but a long-term low-carb approach may bring some problems.
