Low Carb Diet
Low Carb Diet, Mediterranean, or Low Fat?
Which is best?
After a two year exhaustive study published findings in the New England Journal of Medicine the low carb diet edged out both the Mediterranean and low fat diets for healthy weight loss. Apparently, low carb diet is no longer classified as a fad diet with the release of the NEJM findings. According the study it is healthy and appears to now take its place among fully accepted and documented weight loss programs.
In the study there were health markers that were assessed along with weight loss, including cholesterol, triglycerides, and markers for inflammation. Low-carb dieters were no worse off than low-fat dieters at any point in the two year study. In fact in most cases they were better off.
One area that caught people off guard were cholesterol levels. The low carb dieters improved their cholesterol profiles better than the other two, critics had predicted the opposite. But the low-carb approach seemed to trigger the most improvement in several cholesterol measures, including the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, the “good” cholesterol. For example, someone with total cholesterol of 200 and an HDL of 50 would have a ratio of 4 to 1. The optimum ratio is 3.5 to 1, according to the American Heart Association.
What sets this study apart are two things, length and commitment. It lasted two full years which is much longer than most and over 85% of the participants stuck with the program which is very impressive.
Study participants on the low carb diet experienced the sharpest most rapid weight loss because the low carb diet is very satiating and you just don’t feel like eating a lot.
The study also recommended that your protein and fat come from non animal sources like nuts, seeds, and soy. You can have some chicken and fish but what is definitely off the menu is bacon cheeseburger.
Low Carb Dieters may also be interested in the following articles:
Kicking Carb Cravings
Carbs Burn Fat
Carb Clean-Out Plan
We have also created a carb database to help low carb dieters easily make healthy food choices.
