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Low Carb Diets

So just in case you thought the skinny on low fat diets was a big fat pile of confusion, there’s a new study out today: and it comes to the conclusion that the alternative low carb diets may be putting folks at risk for cardiovascular disease.

We’re talking about the types of diets like the Atkins diet: a low carb, high protein, and often higher fat diet.

They’re a popular way to lose weight.

But concerns still remain about their effect on cholesterol levels, given the inclusion of potentially damaging fats; this new study bears out the concern.

To review, a low fat diet, if you believe last week’s widely publicized article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is not going to do you any good in terms of preventing heart disease--at least, that’s what the authors say.

And a low protein diet is not recommended, unless there’s a medical condition like kidney problems.

So what’s left is, well, .a low carb diet.

But wait!

The latest study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a combined look at five previous clinical trials, says while both low fat and low carbohydrate diets appear to be effective at allowing weight loss for up to one year, low carbohydrate diets may be linked to higher overall and higher ldl or bad cholesterol levels.

So, even if you took to heart--pardon the pun--the lack of cardiac benefits of a low fat diet, a low carb diet may actually be causing harm, by worsening one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Amy Fleishman, clinical nutritionist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, says, “If you can’t have your carbs your bread, rice, pasta cereal and all that what are you having instead of that you’re having protein. But people find having a low carb diet be free wheeling to have any protein they want so they may be reaching for red meat eggs butter cream things that are high in saturated fat which will raise your LDL and total cholesterol.”

After six months, those on low-carbohydrate diets were more likely to remain on the diet and had lost more weight than those on low-fat diets. However, after 12 months, blood pressure and weight loss were the same for both groups.

And after six months, individuals on low-carbohydrate diets had increased total cholesterol levels and LDL levels.

However, they also had lower triglyceride levels and higher hdl or "good" cholesterol levels.

It’s confusing!

“It didn’t make a definite conclusion. I don’t think that’s definitely the way to go long term. It’s about everything in moderation and adding variety to your diet,” states Ms. Fleishman.

The authors argue there is still insufficient evidence to make a recommendation either for or against the use of low carbohydrate diets for weight loss.

Maybe the key is balance, and eliminating the real enemy: too many calories, regardless of the source!

“It comes down to calories a calorie is a calorie is a calorie, if you eat less you’re going to lose weight,” argues Ms. Fleishman.

The authors also say these low carbohydrate diets cannot be recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease either.

What is currently recommended is still a low fat, low cholesterol diet—and of course, reducing calories for weight loss. Your doctor can help you.

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