How Many Carbs in a Low Carb Diet: A Personal Exploration
As you know, I've been on a journey to cut down my carb intake, and I've been experimenting with the carnivore diet. Now, I'm not one for counting grams of carbs, but I've been curious about what the consensus is for a diet to be considered "low carb". So, I've done a bit of research, and I thought I'd share my findings with you.
What is a Low Carb Diet?
A low carb diet, as the name suggests, is a diet that restricts carbohydrates, primarily found in sugary foods, pasta, and bread. Instead, you eat real foods including protein, natural fats, and vegetables[1]. But how low is low carb?
The Numbers Game
According to Verywell Fit, very low-carb diets contain less than 10% of calories from carbs, or 20 to 50g carbs per day[2]. In comparison, current dietary guidelines suggest consuming 45% to 65% of daily calories from carbohydrates.
Healthline suggests that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets the daily value for carbs at 275 grams (g) per day when eating a 2,000-calorie diet[3].
Diet Doctor defines low carb as any diet containing fewer than 130 grams of carbs per day[4]. They suggest that the fewer the carbs, the more effective the diet appears to be for weight loss without hunger and for treating type 2 diabetes. However, eating fewer carbs also makes the diet more restrictive and can make it feel more challenging to sustain.
My Take
As someone who's been trying to be 100% carnivore, I can tell you that it's not always easy to stick to a very low-carb diet. But I've noticed that I feel so much better since eating fewer carbs - more energy, no tiredness after eating, and I feel fuller for longer so I no longer have sugar cravings.
I believe that we all eat too many carbs, and cutting down, even if not to the extremes of a very low carb diet, can have significant health benefits.
The Bigger Picture
While it's interesting to know the numbers, it's also important to remember that everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's about finding a balance that works for you and makes you feel good.
If you're interested in learning more about low carb diets, I found a couple of interesting videos on YouTube. One is by the Cleveland Clinic, discussing the truth about low-carb diets and 'slow carbs'[5], and the other is by MedCram, discussing long-term data on low-carb diets, mortality, and diabetes[6].
So, there you have it, my friends. A little insight into the world of low-carb diets. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Stay curious!
