减肥不容易。面对肥胖的烦恼，大多数超重者都盼望能够找到一个快速的解决方法。市面上近年来流行着一种被称极为有效的减肥方法，那就是通过低碳水化合物，高蛋白质和脂肪的饮食，来改善体重。这种方法虽然有效，但是其副作用甚多。其中包括对肾脏的损害，尿酸过多且在关节累积进而导致痛风，胆固醇上升。长期副作用更包括了身体肌肉流失，动脉粥样硬化，提高中风以及高血压的风险，心脏病，骨骼软化，甚至肾脏结晶！在未采取此方法之前，请三思！
Weight management is extremely difficult. Almost everyone with overweight problems wants a quick solution. Recently, one of my friends has asked me regarding the effectiveness of low carbohydrate diets for losing weight and how does it works. I could not answer him at that time as I have totally no idea about it. Not long ago, I have come across an article discussing low carbohydrate diets written by Dr Margaret Ann Bock from New Maxico State University. It was a good article discussing in detail how does low carbohydrate diets work in helping people reducing weight and what are the important consideration that we should know before starting a diet plan like that. The following were their detrimental effects on health summarize from that article:
Following a dietary regimen which is high in protein, moderate to high in fat and low in carbohydrates may result in a variety of physiological responses:1. Our kidneys have to work harder to excrete nitrogen from protein, converting nitrogen to urea and eliminating it through urinary.
2. Some of the nitrogen removed from amino acids result in formation of uric acid, a compound that certain people do not properly metabolize. As a result, uric acid may be deposited in the joints as crystals that can stimulate the inflammatory condition known as gout.
3. Excessive acetyl CoA was formed from the breakdown of fat or protein for energy use. One of the alternative paths for utilization of acetyl CoA is in the synthesis of cholesterol.
4. Ketosis or acidosis caused by breakdown of high levels of fat and protein require urinary elimination of those byproducts, further stressing the kidneys.
5. In serious case, skeletal muscle and other body protein may be broken down to meet glucose need, resulting in loss of lean body mass.
6. Ketosis may damage LDL cholesterol, making it more likely to adhere to artery walls and thus, increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
7. Over time, atherosclerosis increases the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), which in turn, increases the potential for stroke and negatively affects the work of the heart.
8. Narrowing of the blood vessels cause by atherosclerosis increases the possibility of blood clot formation, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.
9. Chronic acidosis may have a detrimental effect on bone health in that it may lead to osteomalacia (softening of the bones) or rickets.
10. Chronic acidosis may also cause growth failure in children and nephrocalcinosis (calcium deposits in the kidney) or nephrolithiasis (kidney stones).
So what do you think after reading this? I don’t mean to scare you but perhaps, we should think twice before adopting a ‘low carbohydrate, high protein, and moderate fat’ diet for losing weight. Good luck for your slimming program my friend!
