Is a Low-Carb Diet Really Better for Weight Loss?
In the 1970s, low-carb diets were all the rage. The Dr Atkin’s Diet Revolutionbook claimed carbohydrate restriction was a “high calorie way to stay thin forever.” Carbohydrates are found in breads, cereals and other grains, fruit, vegetables and milk. They’re also in ultra-processed fast foods, cakes, chips and soft drinks.
These days, low-carb diets are promoted as a weight-loss solution, to beat heart disease and as better for diabetes. But how do these claims match up with the latest research? A new review of the evidence found long-term low-carb dieters lost just under a kilo (roughly 2 pounds) more weight than other dieters. However the review concluded there was no evidence low-carb diets have any additional health benefits.
In fact, if you’re on a low-carb diet, you’ll need to pay closer attention to what you eat to make sure you get enough essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other phytonutrients.
Excerpted from Science Alert
