Introduction
Do you typically feel tired all the time? There could be a few ways your body is trying to tell you it needs more carbohydrates.
Remember that carbohydrates might be simple (such as those found in foods produced with white flour or extra sugar) or complex (like fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains). Complex carbs are taken more slowly and generally have less of an impact on blood sugar levels than simple carbs since they are digested more quickly and have a lesser spike in blood sugar.
While thinking of a balanced diet, we think of a diet that has all the nutrients, including carbohydrates. But with fad diets doing the rounds, many people have started excluding carbohydrates from their diets. It is important to know that if a person has carbohydrate deficiency, the body can start giving some signs. You might feel weary all the time or face low productivity issues, and so on.
Here are 5 specific signs that you are not having enough carbohydrates –
You’re always tired
It is widely known that carbs are our body’s primary fuel source, and reducing our consumption of them can significantly affect how we feel physically and mentally. You immediately start to feel exhausted or fatigued as a result, the expert says. Our body receives a boost of energy from carbohydrates that allow us to get through the day. The energy in our body will be drained if we reduce our intake.
Finding it hard to concentrate at work
Following a low-carb diet can make you feel less energetic, less focused, and even crankier than usual.
In addition to providing you with the energy you need to get through your workday, high-quality carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, whole-wheat bread, berries, and quinoa also help to minimize blood sugar increases and prevent crashes. Consider planning your carbohydrate intake by including a small, high-fibre afternoon snack.
Your breath could be unpleasant
A symptom that your body is low on carbohydrates is if your breath smells foul. One of the most likely consequences of following a ketogenic diet plan is severe foul breath. The production of acetone, which is the source of our body’s odour, occurs when we switch from using carbs as fuel to fats as a replacement.
Most of the time, you feel bloated
Usually, the cause of prolonged bloating is attributed to carbohydrates. But the consumption of simple carbohydrates like refined sugar or white flour is the main contributor to this. On the other hand, because complex carbohydrates like whole grains and fruits are rich sources of fibre, cutting back on carbohydrates means cutting back on the amount of fibre your body needs each day. According to experts, consuming enough carbohydrates will significantly lessen bloating.
Mood swings
Simply because your brain isn’t getting enough glucose, the hypothalamus, which regulates our mood, continues to secrete the hunger hormone. It can have a significant effect on other hormones, such as those that are in charge of maintaining a calm mood, when one hormone in our body is overactive and signalling to our body that we need more energy.
Final thoughts
You don’t just give up sugary drinks and cake when you reduce your carb intake. You lose foods like fruits, whole grains, and a lot of vegetables, all of which are good sources of fibre and also include vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. On a low-carb diet, these can be challenging to compensate for.
If you want to follow a low-carb diet, it’s important to ensure you consume enough fibre daily, giving preference to nutritious carbohydrate sources, for your body to receive the right fuel.
Furthermore, you should also undergo preventive health checkups. These health checkups give a complete report about your health, allowing you to take necessary precautionary measures to improve your well-being and keep a host of ailments at bay.
