What happens when you do not get enough carbohydrates, let’s say for a week or a month? What happens when you do not consume carbohydrates at all? How is your health impacted?We’ll focus on the effects of a low or lack of carbohydrate intake in detail.
What happens immediately when you don't get enough carbohydrates?
Immediately after limiting carbohydrates, you may shift into hypoglycemic mode, a counter-effect of what happens when you consume carbohydrates. Normally, once you consume carbohydrates, the level of blood glucose increases. The immediacy varies on whether it is a simple or complex carbohydrate. Simple carbohydrates have more immediate impacts on blood glucose levels. Alternatively, when you do not consume carbohydrates, you experience hypoglycemia wherein the levels of glucose in your body reduce.
Afterward, you may experience :
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Moods-Due to hunger and confusion, one is prone to being moody.
- Lack of concentration-your brain requires glucose for carbohydrates as an energy source. Since the brain influences major body functions, a lack of carbohydrates implies that one may lack concentration and cannot participate for long durations in activities that necessitate much attentiveness.
- Weakness –If your intake is significantly low, your body may begin to break down organ tissue or muscle tissue, leading to weakness and jeopardizing your health.
- Fatigue- Carbohydrates are the main source of energy so when you do not consume them, you will begin to feel fatigued because your body is not meeting its energy needs.
- Cravings-when you do not eat carbohydrates, you will notice that you might have cravings for the same carbohydrates you are limiting.
What happens when you don't consume carbohydrates for a week or more?
After a few days to a week,when you haven’t consumed carbohydrates or you reduced them substantially you may notice weight loss. But you will come to realize that it is water from the body that is lost, leading to changes in weight. Soon after, you may regain weight.
The aforesaid effects including fatigue, weakness and lack of concentration will persist.
After a few days, going on to a week, a month and even more when you have been limiting the carbohydrate intake, your body may begin to adapt to you consuming limited amounts of carbohydrate.You will then enter into ketosis, whereby your body will depend on fats for energy , leading to a production of ketones.
Your body will have recognized that there is not sufficient glucose to produce the energy it requires; hence, it will opt to rely on fats to meet its energy needs. Since fats are broken down much slower than carbohydrates, energy needs will also be met at a slower rate. Consequently, you will find it even more difficult to engage in other activities including exercise.
What happens when you omit carbohydrates altogether?
Whereas several organs can still function without carbohydrates, others such as the brain heavily depend on carbohydrates for energy. Having this in mind, it is crucial to include carbohydrates in your diet, as they are the most suitable way to provide energy to your body.
The apparent implications of a lack of or low carbohydrate intake over the long term are not elaborate. Nevertheless, the fact that some organs heavily depend on glucose as a source of energy warrants the necessity of including adequate amounts of carbohydrates.
Conclusively ,if you are considering altering your carbohydrate intake, perhaps you should consult a dietitian for guidance on how to go about it. If you can consume them, then make sure you consume them to avoid related complications. Even if you are trying to lose weight, opt for a more healthier and sustainable approach that does not significantly cut back the amounts of carbohydrates, but instead prioritize a less restrictive approach that still allows you to obtain all nutrients as well as achieve sustainable weight management.
I’ve learnt a lot from this post.