Pasta. Mashed potatoes. Rice. If you are one of the legions of dieters out there who have been religiously cutting carbs in an attempt to get lean and fit, you may be surprised by a recent study that showed that low carb diets may not be healthy after all.
In fact, they may be unsafe.
Research presented at the 2018 European Society of Cardiology Congress in Germany found that diets very low in carbohydrates may actually increase the risk of premature death over time. Yikes.
The author of the study, Professor Maciej Banach of the Medical University of Lodz, Poland, said: “We found that people who consumed a low carbohydrate diet were at greater risk of premature death.
“Risks were also increased for individual causes of death, including coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer. These diets should be avoided.”
The study – which has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal – used diet and health data from almost 25,000 people collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2010, according to Time.
The researchers found that over an average of 6.4 years of follow-up, people who consumed the lowest amount of carbohydrates had a 32% higher risk of total mortality, a roughly 50% higher risk of dying from vascular diseases and a 36% higher risk of dying from cancer, compared to people who ate the most carbs.
As Prof Banach said: “Low carbohydrate diets might be useful in the short term to lose weight, lower blood pressure and improve blood glucose control, but our study suggests that in the long term, they are linked with an increased risk of death from any cause, and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and cancer.”
Part of the problem may be that people who eliminate carbs might be pigging out on high fat foods instead.
As Despina Hyde, a registered dietitian at NYU Langone’s Weight Management Program, told Time: “When you’re not eating carbs, you have to eat something. We tend to eat higher protein and higher fat (on a low-carb diet).”
Plus, “Carbohydrates are the only source we have of fibre, and fibre is great for reducing risk of breast cancer, lowering our cholesterol and making us feel full for longer.”
Apparently it’s possible to have too much or too little carbohydrate in your life.
“These findings bring together several strands that have been controversial,” co-author Walter Willett at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health said in a statement that USA Today cited.
“Too much and too little carbohydrate can be harmful, but what counts most is the type of fat, protein and carbohydrate.”
Although it’s not a sexy answer, the best path may well be moderation.
Eating carbs is good for us, as long as we are choosing good carbs. Think black beans, fruit, quinoa and whole grains.
You can feel free to cut back on stuff like white bread, white pasta and cookies. – The Mercury News/Tribune News Service
17 Comments
Jyjec
September 23, 2018 at 10:03 amWhere’s the study there’s no link to it. It had not been peer reviewed. If your going to publish a study like this put up a link so we can see the actual study of not this is only anecdotal and base less. Journalist’s should do a little bit of research before putting up articles like this.
Robert A Haut Jr
September 23, 2018 at 3:51 pmIf you are replacing carbs with animal products, then there is a sunami of research pointing to the clogged arteries and high cholesterol of a western diet.
Peter
September 23, 2018 at 7:58 pmRight. Its a nonsense.
Imagine that a majority of population would begin a healthy eating. Low carb or keto. Paleo. Who would then buy all those candys and cokes and processed bull…. What nobody knows what its made from?
E
September 23, 2018 at 9:55 pmIt was peer reviewed. Most studies are in scholarly journals behind pay walls. Don’t be lazy or make assumptions. Find the original and shell out the cash.
Lay tee
September 23, 2018 at 2:20 pmLook at d mirror n c carefully! If obess,not fat only; if arms n thighs like elephant trunks,then not only cut down carb,go on intermitent fasting for d sake of good health. No need reference,just plain common sense….is a good start!🤔🤔🤔
Anna Chew
September 23, 2018 at 4:53 pmSuch a badly written article. Funny the author is agency, I wonder which advertiser producing carbs paid you to write this.
Pray tell where is it that you mention vegetables containing carbs? They do and that can be a source of carbs.
Also mentioning MIGHT be eating high fat and high protein food is as much an assumption as your headlines
MaheshDP
September 23, 2018 at 5:26 pmIt’s fake
Rj Kelly
September 23, 2018 at 5:39 pmI agree. Its been just 1 year of my low carb journey and I feel great. Do I too would like to review this study.
Linda Franklin
September 23, 2018 at 7:39 pmThe article and processed carbs are crap!
Ks
September 23, 2018 at 8:08 pmThis article is a little misleading though because low carb counts net carbs not total carbs. Net carbs doesn’t count fiber so the diet does promote fiber. I get tons of fiber from flax and veggies.
GA
September 23, 2018 at 8:33 pmAbsolute garbage of an article. Please please all disregard.
Sweet Mareejayne
September 23, 2018 at 9:15 pmWow. What a crock.
Sharifah Esa
September 23, 2018 at 9:59 pmEat as pernormal carbohydrates preday but must cut down on sugar and salt.You can lose weight and feel healthier.I lose 20 kg in 1year for cutting on sweets ,cakes and meat and sugary drinks.
Janice
September 23, 2018 at 10:01 pmThis is a badly written article. No worries review, no author’s name, too many assumptions to make his or her point.
Horrible assumptions that when people go low carbs that that eat more protein and fat. Those on keto generally eat so so much more vegetables than the average person who gorges down deep fried battered foods.
Ji Kao
September 23, 2018 at 10:19 pmLower your carb intake, but don’t pig on high fat n protein, make up with green veggies instead, you’ll be fine.
Josephcampbell
September 24, 2018 at 1:11 amWhy be the person who shares nonsense and feel that you may be very wrong. Nobody wants to be another ancel keys
Pranee Kong
September 24, 2018 at 8:34 amToo much is how much, too little is how little?
Study should specify how much is called “healthy amount”, this study could be trusted.