People often use the word “therapeutic carbohydrate restriction” instead of “low carb” because it emphasizes the possible health benefits and medical uses of this way of eating. Low carb may just mean a diet that limits carbs, but TCR puts more emphasis on the fact that this is a medical or therapeutic method.
TCR and its power to heal
Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient that can be found in foods like bread, pasta, rice, and veggies. They give the body energy. In recent years, however, TCR, which is also called a low-carb or very low-carb diet, has become more popular because it may have health benefits beyond weight loss. But what is TCR, and how does it work?
How Much Carbs?
TCR is a way to eat that reduces the amount of carbs you eat to less than the recommended amount, usually less than 130 grams per day or even as little as 20-50 grams per day. The normal American diet, on the other hand, is often high in carbs and can lead to health problems like obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
The main goal of TCR is to make the body less reliant on carbs as a source of fuel and more reliant on fat. When you don’t eat enough carbs, your body has to use the fat it has saved as fuel. This is called ketogenesis. This makes the body make molecules called ketones, which can be used by the brain, muscles, and other systems as an alternative source of energy.
Which Diets Are TCR?
The ketogenic diet, or “keto,” is one of the most well-known TCR diets. It is a very low-carb, high-fat diet that has been used for decades to treat seizures. But therapeutic carbohydrate restriction isn’t just the ketogenic diet. It can also be the low-carb, high-protein diet or the paleo diet, which limits certain carbs like grains and beans.
Benefits
Therapeutic carbohydrate limit could be good for your health in a number of ways. One of the most important effects is better control of blood sugar. By reducing carbs, the body makes less insulin, which is the hormone that controls how much sugar is in the blood. This can be especially helpful for people who have diabetes or are at risk of getting it, because it can help keep their blood sugar levels stable and cut down on the need for medicine.
Therapeutic carbohydrate reduction could also help people lose weight. When the body is in ketosis, it burns more fat for energy, which can help people lose weight. Also, low-carb diets often make people feel less hungry and fuller, which can make them eat less calories and lose weight over time.
Therapeutically limiting carbs may also be good for the health of the heart. Diets that are high in carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates and sugar, have been linked to a higher chance of heart disease. On the other hand, low-carb diets may help lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and raise levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, which can lead to a better cardiovascular profile.
Therapeutic carbohydrate restriction has been studied for its possible good effects on brain health, mood, and inflammation, in addition to these health benefits. Some study shows that ketones, which are made when fat is burned for energy, may have neuroprotective effects and could help people with neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. But there needs to be more study in this area.
