A Healthy Low-Carb Diet May Not Be What You Think

Low-carb diets are well known and surprisingly popular, despite being super restrictive. But, even a healthy low-carb diet may not be what you think.
Should you be cutting carbohydrates out of your diet after all? Check out the information below to discover some weight loss tips that may change the way you approach the way you eat for your waistline and your health.

What Happens When You Cut Out Carbs?

According to the CBC, a U.S. study discovered that those who choose to reduce their carbohydrate intake might increase the risk of dying prematurely, particularly if they eliminate carbs while eating a lot of cheese and meat. Through these types of studies, experts are finding that, despite the short-term weight loss that can be achieved when you follow a low-carb diet, the long-term risks aren’t worth it.

What Does a Healthy Low-Carb Diet Look Like?

If a healthy low-carb diet isn’t one that focuses on meat and dairy, what should you be eating?
First, experts recommend getting anywhere from 50-55% of your calories from carbs. This can help reduce your risk of death from all causes. That’s because researchers found that study participants were more likely to die when they ate much higher or much lower intakes of carbs.
Choosing the right foods for your healthy low-carb diet is the key. Replacing carbs with animal protein or fat has been associated with a higher risk of death. If you replace energy from carbs with plant-based protein or fat, however, the opposite is true, and your risk of death can decrease.

How to Achieve the Right Balance

It turns out that following a healthy low-carb diet means reducing carbs to an optimal, moderate level, so that you aren’t getting too much or too little. But, it also means focusing on plant-based protein and fat, rather than animal-based protein and fat. According to researchers, that is the best way to lose weight while improving and maintaining your wellbeing.
How does it all work? Experts believe that plant-based protein can help individuals increase longevity because these foods can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. On the other hand, meat, including processed meat, can have the opposite effects, thereby leading to more inflammation and oxidative stress.
If you have been thinking about following a diet that restricts your intake of carbohydrates every day, consider following the guidelines above so that you can use a healthy low-carb diet to lose weight while also maintaining your health. Eating the right foods can make a world of difference in how successful you are, not only at shedding the excess pounds, but also at living a vibrant life.