South Beach Diet Side Effects

Hypoglycemia

In most healthy individuals, blood sugar level increases right after eating but then gradually regress to the normal level. But some people who experience hypoglycemia, their blood glucose levels drop drastically bringing forth symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, weakness, hunger, anxiety, sweating and trembling. In most cases, hypoglycemia occurs in diabetics who are unable to properly manage their disease. As a matter of fact, healthy individuals rarely experience hypoglycemia but it can happen especially when the individual consumes less carbohydrate needed by the body.

The Mechanism For The Occurrence of Hypoglycemia

Whenever an individual goes through a low-carbohydrate diet the metabolism of energy becomes similar to fasting. Since there is little carbohydrate coming from the diet, the body then utilizes its glycogen stores to supply the needed glucose for the body's cells especially the brain, blood and nerve cells. During this time the individual can experience hypoglycemia for it's harder to render glucose from glycogen reserves than absorbing it from dietary carbohydrates. This occurs temporarily but can become long-term when the low-carbohydrate is pursued longer than prescribed.

Other Side Effects of Low-Carbohydrate Diets

Even if the low-carbohydrate intake in South Beach diet only lasts for two weeks, there are still some other side effects dieters may experience other than hypoglycemia. Examples of these adverse effects are constipation, low blood pressure, increased uric acid and bad breath. Constipation occurs when an individual has low fiber intake or low food consumption causing an extended transit time of food in the gastrointestinal tract. Water is reabsorbed within the colon leading to small, dry and hard stools.

Increased uric acid is explained by the synthesis of glucose from amino acids of protein. What happens is that in spite of the low-carb diet providing plentiful of dietary protein, the body will still use up proteins from muscle tissues. Every time protein is broken down, fluids are released and consequently production of urine increases. This then results to elevated uric acid in the blood aggravating kidney diseases or causing joint inflammation to those who are inclined to having gout disorders.

These side effects may not be life-threatening to healthy individuals but caution must be taken when implementing the first phase of South Beach diet. Now that you know the possible effects of a low-carbohydrate diet, you have the option to still go through phase 1 of SB diet despite the adverse effects it causes.