Research on Low Carb Diets: What to Believe

The high-protein low carb diet as espoused  by the Atkins New Diet Revolution, South Beach Diet, Sugar Busters Diet and the likes have been the center of heated discussion within the science and health circle. What makes it more confusing are the number of conflicting researches about low carb diets. Some experts say that low carb diets are beneficial while there are many who contradict this and say that they are harmful. Below are a survey of some of the researches made on low-carb diets. You be the judge.

The Pros of a Low Carb Diet

Preliminary findings of a research study made by the Duke University Medical Center show that a low-carbohydrate diet such as the Atkins Diet can indeed lead to significant and sustained weight loss. Moreover, patients’ cholesterol levels improved by the end of six months of being put on a the Atkins diet.

A study by made by Gary Taubes of the New York Times called “What If It's All Been A Big Fat Lie?” questions weather the Atkins Diet and Low-Carb Plans have been right all along.  And his answer was a big “yes!” When Taubes presented his findings to a group of academicians, he was met with anger. The audience was even surprised why he presented data on the Atkins Diet. But the finding of Taubes shows that low carb diet such the Atkins improves cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels.

A study conduted by Swedish scientists in Stockholm found out that basic high carb foods such as bread, biscuits, potato chips and French fries contain alarmingly high quantities of acrylamide, a substance believed to cause cancer.

A Harvard study said that the food pyramid is wrong. According to the study, eating six to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta a day; two to three servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts; and fats, oils and sweets sparingly puts too much stress on carbohydrates.

A new research study in Germany has found out that high protein diets are actually beneficial. According to the study consumption of very high levels of protein may not have adverse effects and may in fact boost antioxidant levels. This is contrary to what conventional medical authorities, vegetarians, and other promoters of low-fat diets have been saying.

The Cons of a Low Carb Diet

UK College of Medicine professor of medicine and clinical arts James W. Anderson and his team of researchers performed a critical review and computer analysis of eight popular weight-loss diets. These diets include: Atkins, Protein Power, Sugar Busters, Zone, ADA Exchange, High-Fiber Fitness, Pritikin and Ornish. Anderson was joined by University of Toronto professor of medicine and clinical nutrition David Jenkins and UK nutrition doctoral candidate Elizabeth Konz. Their study found that Protein Power and Dr. Atkins¹ New Diet Revolution had negative effects because it raises cholesterol levels, which have been linked with an increased risk for coronary heart disease.

After a review of five of the most popular high-protein diets, The American Heart Association (AHA), concluded that low carb diets may encourage quick weight loss but the long-term consequences of a high fat diet are worse. The question that the AHA findings poses is Do the short-term benefits of high protein diets (weight loss) outweight the long term consequences (risk of heart disease)?