Sudhakar Jha
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Sudhakar Jha | Published : August 17, 2018 4:17 PM IST
Food plans which tell you to eat low carbs and go for more protein and fat, such as the Ketogenic or Paleo, have gained popularity in recent years due to many celebrities and trainers promoting and swearing by them, but they are not doing your health any good in long term.
Because a new research, published in the journal The Lancet, followed 15,400 people since the 1980s and found that those with low carb diets died an average of four years earlier than those who had moderate intakes. In fact, people who had higher carb intakes were better off than those who drastically reduced carbohydrates.
"Low-carb diets that replace carbohydrates with protein or fat are gaining widespread popularity as a health and weight loss strategy," said study leader Dr. Sara Seidelmann, Clinical and Research Fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.
"However, our data suggests that animal-based low carbohydrate diets, which are prevalent in North America and Europe, might be associated with shorter overall life span and should be discouraged. Instead, if one chooses to follow a low carbohydrate diet, then exchanging carbohydrates for more plant-based fats and proteins might promote healthy ageing in the long term," added Dr. Sara.
For the study, researchers followed 15,428 adults aged 45-64 years from 1987, monitoring their diets and health outcomes for more than two decades. And they came to the conclusion that from age 50, the average life expectancy was 83 years for those with moderate carbohydrate intake (50 - 55 per cent of daily calories) which was four years longer than those with very low carbohydrate consumption (less than 40 per cent of calories) who lived an average of 79 years. Also, those on high carb diet (greater than 70 per cent of calories), lived till an average age of 82.
Researchers also found that replacing carbohydrates with animal protein and fat was linked to a higher risk of mortality than moderate carb intake. In contrast, replacing carbohydrates with plant-based foods was linked to a lower risk of death.
The authors found similar trends in eight other studies that involved 4,30,000 people and speculated that diets that heavily curbed down carbohydrates often lead to greater consumption of animal proteins and fats which may drive inflammation, biological ageing and oxidative stress.
Image source: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The content on TheHealthSite.com is only for informational purposes. It is not at all professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.