Low-Carb Diets Can Be Damaging To Arteries?
Posted: Tuesday, August 25, 2009
by Laura Trahan
It has been the craze over the last few years. Individuals giving up carbs and upping their protein intake.
Researchers in the United States have now found these type of diets to clog arteries and increase heart attacks. The diets do cause people to slim, but could possibly kill you in the process. Is it worth risk?
Researchers at Beth Israel Institute began testing the effects of low carb diets on the cardiovascular system. The scientists fed mice three different diets: a standard mouse diet, a western diet that is high in fat and finally a low-carb, high protein version, the National Academy of Sciences reported.
In fact, the low-carb mice developed 15 percent more build up than those on standard mice food and six percent more then those on the typical western diet.
What does this tell me? As someone who has done a ton of diets, it just confirms something I learned long ago. Not that I practice it all the time, but I have the head knowledge.
Diets that make you give up something tend to not work or help at all. Balanced eating, portion control and exercise is the answer. Changing your life and eating habits are more beneficial then cutting something completely out of your diet.
The team ultimately concluded that most likely low-carb diets are affecting the way bone marrow cells clean the arteries. As someone whose mom died of a heart attack, I am rethinking the diets I consider. Low-carb is definitely out after this study.
However, diets such as weight watchers, fat-cutting, etc. are more realistic and offer better health benefits. In the meantime, where did I put that bread. I have some making up to do!
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Good article, and good to bring this information to people's attention. For almost everyone, losing weight healthily is best accomplished the obvious way - eat a healthy, varied diet with less saturated fat / calories, and do more excercise.All the "fad" diets that remove important nutritional elements are potentially dangerousThanks Ben for the comment! I couldn't agree more!
I hear you! Am currently doing the Glycemic Index weight loss plan - it makes sense - gets back to fruits, veggies and good protien and you can measure results in the lab. It doesn't have a ton of bread though, nor chemicals, preservatives etc. My friend said she was on the "no white stuff" diet and basically it is very similar to the GI eating plan - the white stuff isn't good for your blood suage (including pop corn) She and I are both losing sensibly and feel great and not deprived. MarijoThat is great to hear Marijo! I might have to find out more about that diet! Thanks for sharing!
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