Low-carbohydrate diets, popular throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s, have been promoted as effective ways to lose weight by replacing carbohydrates with protein. The most famous low carbohydrate is the Atkins Diet, designed by the late Dr. Robert Atkins and promoted by the company he founded. While a 2006 Harvard research study found no connection between low carbohydrate diets and an increase in the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease or stroke, they do carry a number of annoying and potentially dangerous side effects.

Significance

While most side effects of low carbohydrate diets tend to be mild and temporary, ketosis, in which your body burns its own fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates, can cause lethargy, exhaustion and in extreme cases kidney failure.

Types

Danish obesity expert Dr. Arne Astrup found that dieters following low carb plans commonly suffered from muscle weakness, headaches, bad breath, muscle cramps, and diarrhea or constipation.
Weight Loss Maintenance

The Mayo Clinic asserts that much of the weight lost on low carb diet plans tends to be water weight, which is quickly regained when dieters begin to eat normally.
Considerations

Always consult your doctor before you begin any type of diet plan in order to ensure it is a healthy choice for you.
Expert Insight

Researchers in the 2006 Harvard study found that dieters would be best advised to steer clear any type of extreme diets. According to Harvard researcher Thomas L. Halton, “Neither a very low fat diet or a very low carbohydrate diet proved to be ideal. There were pros and cons to both of these diets.”

Related Articles:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00616200
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2009/08/low-carb-diets-linked-to-atherosclerosis-and-impaired-blood-vessel-growth
http://www.womenshealth.gov/news/headlines/642824.cfm