Dr. Atkins Proven Right!

The Dr. Atkins low-carb diet thumps traditional diets in weightloss research. The study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negevpitted the low-carb diet against Mediterranean and low-fatdiets.

Low-carb was declared the winner in helping the mostpeople lose the most weight.  The research produced even bigger news. The low-card dietimproved cholesterol levels more than the other diets.  The study lasted for two years, which was much longer than mostdiet studies. In addition, 85% of the 322 people who began thetest stuck with the plan for the entire two years. 

Most of the participants in the study were men and both men andwomen get roughly equal amounts of exercise. The average weightloss for people in the low-carb group was 10.3 pounds at the endof the two year study.  The Mediterranean diet group come in a close second as theaverage weight loss per person was 10 pounds.

Diet Surprise

The low fatdieters finished in third place with 6.5 pounds of averageweight loss.  The low-carb diet provided a big surprise for researchers whenit was found that the diet also provided an important reductionin the level of cholesterol. That included an improvement in theratio of total cholesterol to HDL. HDL is considered the "good"cholesterol. 

The diet study was done in a controlled environment in Israel.The participants were employees of an isolated nuclear-researchcompany. There were few sources of food nearby, so the studygroup took all of their meals in the facility's cafeteria.

To maintain control of the study appropriate foods for each dietwere identified by colored dots. Participants had their choiceof foods marked with the color of their diet plan  The low-fat diet was designed to allow consumption of no morethan 30% of calories from fat. In addition it restricted theintake of calories and cholesterol. It controlled that intake byfocusing the diet on low-fat grains, vegetables and fruits. 

With the Mediterranean style diet the food emphases was onpoultry, fish, olive oil and nuts.  The low-carb diet plan limited consumption of carbohydrates,but set no limits for calories or fats. It was suggested thatparticipants in that group choose from vegetarian sources of fatand protein. 

Someone with total cholesterol of 200 and an HDL of 50 wouldhave a ratio of 4 to 1. The American Heart Association recommends an optimum ratio of 3.5 to 1. A low ratio reduces therisk of hardening of the arteries. For those on the low-carbdiets the ratio declined by 20%, 16 for the Mediterranean dietand 12% for those on the low fat diet.  Research published last year shows a low-carb diet wins againwhen it comes to blood pressure.

It was found that overweightwomen on the Atkins low-carb plan had slightly better bloodpressure and cholesterol readings when compared with women onthe Zone diet and Ornish diet. 

Yes, anyone who is serious about losing pounds, maintaininggood cholesterol and controlling blood pressure, can have highhopes with the Atkins low-carb diet. 

Benefits of a Low Carb Diet >>

Here's To Your Health,
Ethan Miller
Low Carb Oracle

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  Dr. Atkins Proven Right