The Low-Carb Diet Brain Drain

Most of us probably don’t realize that our dieting activities can negatively effect how our brain works and can in turn get one into trouble with friends, family and colleagues.  A low carb diet may have this effect since low carb diets tend to reduce one's glucose levels well below the level of glucose that is needed for the brain to function normally.  This lack of glucose going to the brain often results in a feeling of lethargy.

If you have never experienced lethargy, imagine being in a state in which you feel no desire, care about nothing, and have difficulty focusing on any one thing.  When in a lethargic state, people will talk to you but you will be uninterested in everything being said and will have trouble thinking of a response.  In fact, you may not even care to respond since you probably won’t be following what they are talking about.  In addition to lethargy, you may experience extreme irritability. 

Most low carb diets include a period of time up front, in which you are expected to spend up to two weeks eating less than one serving of carbohydrates each day.  Since nutritionists recommend an average of eight servings of carbohydrates each day as a minimum for normal body and brain function, you can imagine how badly this first two weeks can affect your state of mind.  Once the sense of lethargy sets in, you may be on slow mode in everything you do.

In addition to lethargy and irritability, some of the other common side effects of a low carb diet are diarrhea, bad breath, and muscle weakness, which will make you prone to sprains and injury.  So, though a low carb diet may seem like a good idea, you may want to reconsider.  However, if you end up picking up a copy of one of these diets, I advise talking to a nutritionist before you start so you will know how to diet in a healthy manner and without injuring your body, mind, or relationships.

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