[Nubella News] - You can trim carbohydrates out of your meals and still lower the levels of fat in your blood, even if you don't shed any pounds.

That's why nutrition experts at  Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute say that although you may not lose weight on a low-carb diet, don't give it up because the eating plan may still reduce the "bad" fat in your blood.

In fact, carbs may cause fat to build up in the liver, just like on your thighs, abdomen and hips. But the fat in the liver eventually finds an easy route to your bloodstream, where it can build up, clog arteries and lead to heart disease, strokes and other afflictions.

Triglycerides, 'bad' cholesterol down

Dr. Ronald Krauss, one of the chief researchers, and his team studied the eating habits of 178 overweight men, who first ate standard diets for one week and got 54 percent of their energy intake came from carbs. While some of the men continued on the diet, others switched to diets ranging between 26 percent and 39 percent carbs for three more weeks.

The men with the lowest consumption of carbs showed lower harmful "triglycerides," or fat in the blood, and LDL "bad" cholesterol, compared to fellow participants on the standard diet. The men also realized an increase in HDL "good" cholesterol, according to the results.

The study's findings were due to the diet's high content of protein and monounsaturated fat than to saturated fat. Furthermore, changes came regardless of whether they ate less saturated fat or lost weight.

'Societal disease'

You can reduce the carbs by cutting back sugary foods, white rice, pasta and white bread, Krauss said. But he and his team cautioned that more research is needed to find a conclusive remedy in the battle against obesity.

"Obesity is a societal disease caused by an overabundance of food, and diets high in protein or fat are unlikely to reverse the trend," researchers said, in the report. "We also do not know whether the consumption of large amounts of protein is safe for the kidneys and bones, and trials to determine this are urgently needed.

"We have a way to go before we know as much about protein as we do about unsaturated fats."

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are considered healthier than saturated fat and trans fat. Nutritionists and dietitians recommend you substitute fish for meats, which are high in saturated fats. Unsaturated fats tend to lower the level of artery-clogging cholesterol in the blood.

The study appears in May's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Editor's Note: This article includes information from Reuters.

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Source: Nubella News
Posted by: Steve Smith
Reference: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Website: www.nubella.com

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