Are Low Carb Diets Really Safe?

I’m trying to start a low carb diet but I’m worried about the possible health risks of it. I keep hearing many different things, some say its safe, others say its not. I just don’t want to develop liver or kidney problems from eating low carb.

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3 Responses to “Are Low Carb Diets Really Safe?”

Monya on July 3rd, 2009 at 2:41 am

I think a majority of the kidney problems that people get from low carb diets are due to the increased meat intake. Too much protein is bad for your kidneys….not to mention the fat in beef.
Personally, instead of a “low carb” diet, I think that maybe you should try to make modifications to your diet to include healthier carbs, like complex carbs.
For example, choose brown rice over white rice and whole grain bread over white bread. They even have whole grain pasta now.
You also want to make changes that are going to be easier to stick too. Hope this helps
Sherrie on July 3rd, 2009 at 3:18 am

Erik, I have been a member of some online low carb communities since 2002 and I am yet to hear of anyone coming down with kidney or liver problems. Granted that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened, but surely, if it was such a big risk as some like to claim, then I would think I would’ve seen this happen numerous times, by now!
I have a page where I collect research on the benefits of low carb diets and I sort it by category, e.g. low carb diets and weight loss, low carb diets and kidneys. There’s still lots to add but there’s a fair bit there:
Low Carb Research: http://www.apinchofhealth.com/resources/...
Keep in mind, that some health risks regarding diets are often a result of fast weight loss, so don’t be in a rush to lose your weight really fast after the initial couple of weeks which will always drop the most weight.
I have endo on July 3rd, 2009 at 6:01 am

Unless you have a kidney issue, low carb diets are, in general safe. They still get a bad rep despite much evidence to the contrary. I would suggest reading the Atkins book-regardless of which low carb lifestyle you try. Reading the book will help you to understand why it is safe and what is happening. Also, I forget the actual website but google, “living LaVida lowcarb.” It’s a website from a guy who’s lost 100+ pounds and has kept it off for several years-he has recipes, links to studies and also has podcasts on there, some with dr.’s who advocate the lifestyle. Good luck.

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