There is a lot of misinformation on the internet low-carb diets. For one, some say that a low-carb diet doesn’t help people lose weight despite the numerous scientifically backed studies presented on sites like Healthline. Others say that a low-carb diet is hard to follow because the body needs a lot of carbohydrates to function well. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
In reality, a low-carb diet is one of the most effective ways to become healthy. In a study conducted by Diabetologia, it was mentioned that people who followed a low-carb diet not only lost a significant amount of weight but also improved their glycemic control, which is necessary for combating type 2 diabetes. Aside from losing weight and controlling sugar levels, another positive effect of a low-carb diet is reducing the risk of heart diseases.
In a study from the Tulane University, participants were assigned a low-carb diet, and were told to maintain an intake of less than 40 grams of carbs every day. After a year, the study concluded that people on a low-carb diet had significantly decreased their cardiovascular disease risk factors because their cholesterol levels were lower. In fact, the study also found out that the decrease in the risk of heart disease was lower in a low-carb diet than in a low-fat diet.
The study by Tulane is backed by a research published by the journal PLOS ONE, which mentions that reducing one’s carb intake is actually better than just staying away from fat. When researchers looked at 17 random studies focusing on obese subjects, they found that a high-fat, low-carb diet was almost 98% more likely to lower the risk of a heart attack and stroke than simply staying away from fat.
The reason why a high-carb diet stands in the way of a healthy heart is because of how the food is processed for consumers. In a 2016 post, Organic Healthy Life noted that there are carbs that are preferred by the body like legumes, whole grain, and vegetables. Such food items give the body the fuel it needs. Refined or processed carbs, on the other hand, such as white flour, pasta, and bread from most bakeries have very little to no fiber. There’s a huge difference in the way that refined carbs are converted into glucose by the body, which is why people who suddenly stop eating refined carbs immediately experience an improved glycemic control. Refined carbohydrates are converted to glucose quickly, which makes the body work harder to get blood sugar levels under control. As many people already know, diabetes can be linked to several diseases, as well as strokes.
Experts suggest that apart from following a low-carb intake, you should have an active lifestyle in order to further keep heart diseases at bay. Health IQ suggests from their research that cyclists lower their cardiovascular risks by 18%, and swimmers by 41%. Those who have a regular exercise routine lower their heart disease risks by 56%. A healthy diet combined with regular exercise is the best the way to reduce the chances of cardiovascular risks, and lead a healthy and long life.
Reducing your carb intake through the amount of refined and processed carbs will help improve the chances of a healthy heart. We hope this article has shown how diet can impact your health, and the importance of following a good diet.
This article was written by Andrea Davies.
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The information from Nancy Addison and Organic Healthy Lifestyle LLC is not offered for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease or disorder nor have any statements herein been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We strongly encourage you to discuss topics of concern with your health care provider.
Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article, book, podcast, website, email, etc. is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
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