Carbohydrates are nutrients that provide energy for the body to perform daily activities. This substance helps build immunity, maintains healthy vision, and maximize growth. 100 percent body converts carbohydrates into glucose to produce energy.
In case of a shortage (deficiency) of carbohydrates, proteins are broken down to produce energy because the body is not able to get enough sugar from carbohydrates.
This condition makes the reduced supply of protein is needed for growth and development at the same time triggering the formation of ketones in the liver.
Normally, the body convert glucose derived from carbohydrates into energy. When there are no carbohydrates available for this process, the body will burn fat after 3 days.
Within a few days, the body will get used to not getting carbohydrates. However there will be a decrease in brain activity of the body due to lack of fuel.
Carbohydrates Deficiency Causes
When reducing the intake of carbohydrates from the diet, you will suffer from a lack of these nutrients. Note if the body starts sending signals that show symptoms of deficiency of carbohydrates.Carbohydrates Deficiency Symptoms
Because the function of carbohydrates is essential for the body, lack of intake will lead to various adverse effects of short-term and long-term such as:- Irritability
- Nausea
- Bad breath
- Loss of muscle mass
- Muscle cramps
- Excessive fatigue
- Decreased brain function
- Increased body fat percentage
- Loss of sodium in the body
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Frequent headaches
- Loss of water content in the body
The brain gets energy from blood sugar, which is derived from carbohydrates, to perform its function.
Brain cells need two times more energy than other cells in the body. This is partly due to the brain cells that always works even when you are sleeping.
When deprived of carbohydrates, the brain will not function properly and may lead to memory loss, reduced attention span, and learning ability.
Shortage of carbohydrates for long periods can also cause paralysis and or epilepsy.
Eliminate all sources of dietary carbohydrates also lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to carbohydrate-containing foods also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Carbohydrates needed not only to maintain overall body health, but also to support metabolism. That's because, carbohydrate deficiency increases the risk of diabetes, heart problems and obesity.
Care and Treatment
Carbohydrate deficiency can be overcome with enough mengasup carbohydrate-rich foods in your diet. Carbohydrates are mainly found in the sources of food crops such as grains, potatoes, and sugar.In animal source, carbohydrates are found in significant quantities only in dairy products.
Simple carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts release energy over a given period and thus stay in the body longer so that the system is able to control hunger.
However, simple carbohydrates found in pasta and bread release the sugar directly into the blood so that makes you feel hungry faster.
The minimum daily carbohydrate intake ranged from 50 grams to 100 grams. However, the recommended daily intake is 177 grams for women and for men was 287 grams.
Low-carbohydrate diets typically contain less than 144 grams of carbohydrates. Health experts recommend at least 15% of total calorie intake in a day should be obtained from carbohydrates.
So, if you plan to adopt the Atkins diet (low carbohydrate diet), you are advised to make modifications by making low-carb diet and not a diet without carbohydrates.