Low Fat Diets Better Than Low Carb Diets
May protect against heart disease
Low fat diets are more effective in preserving and promoting a healthy cardiovascular system than low carbohydrate, Atkins-like diets, according to a new study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
“The nutrient-specific effects of these diets on cardiovascular health are largely unknown,” said Dr. Gutterman, M.D., Northwestern Mutual Professor of Cardiology.
“Low-carbohydrate diets are significantly higher in total grams of fat, protein, dietary cholesterol and saturated fats than low-fat diets. While a low carbohydrate diet may result in weight loss and improvement in blood pressure, similar to a low fat diet, the higher fat content is ultimately more detrimental to heart health than is the low-fat diet suggested by the American Heart Association.”
Low-carbohydrate diets were also found to have significantly less daily folic acid than low-fat diets, which is thought to be helpful in reducing the likeliness of heart disease.