Initial Side Effects May Be Eased with a Slow Transition

A common criticism of eating low carb or paleo is the negative side effects that may accompany your new way of eating. As described by the Mayo Clinic, if you "suddenly and drastically cut carbs, you may experience a variety of temporary health effects, including Headache, Dizziness, Weakness, Fatigue, Constipation..."

Based on our data, it looks like they may be onto something, emphasizing their choice of "suddenly and drastically." Below is a depiction of the most common side effects reported, which can also be seen on our results page.

Members commonly report withdrawal-like symptoms, very similar to those smokers experience when trying to quit. Headaches, irritability, intense cravings for carbohydrates and sugar, and flu like symptoms were common as people transitioned to their new way of eating. 

Based on our data of 3,000+ entries, it seems like these uncomfortable symptoms can me ameliorating by slowly transitioning into your new diet. Subjects that slowly transitioned into their new way of eating were more likely to experience no side effects, and less likely to report feeling weak or having headaches:

Just like any dramatic change to your daily living, a slow and easy transition may increase the likelihood of your longterm success and help you achieve the health benefits so many others have.

How have these side effects affected your experience?

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