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American Heart Association Supports Cutting Carbs

Some time ago now, the American Heart Association (AHA) stopped beating the "low-fat drum". For example, Richard N. Fogoros, M.D., the cardiologist who is the About.com Guide to Heart Disease is a supporter of carbohydrate reduction. But I've got to admit I was surprised at the openness of a spokesperson for the AHA, when discussing a recent study presented at the annual meeting of the AHA a couple of weeks ago. The study looked at people with metabolic syndrome (often a precursor to diabetes), and is what is called a "cross-over study", meaning that everyone tried both diets being tested, for four weeks each. Some started with the low-fat diet (20% fat, 65% carbohydrate) and others with the "moderate fat" diet (40% fat, 45% carbohydrate). Both diets were low in saturated fats. Importantly, the diet was designed to keep weight stable, so that the diets could be evaluated apart from any effect on weight. Those of us who follow low-carb science are not surprised that the people with metabolic syndrome had better cholesterol and triglycerides when on the lower-carb, higher-fat, diet. Interestingly, Alice Lichtenstein, a spokeswoman for the AHA is quoted in Healthday as saying, "Since 2000, the AHA has been recommending not a low-fat diet, but one that is low in saturated fats and trans fatty acids. People with metabolic syndrome are glucose-intolerant, meaning they can't process blood sugar well. Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets exacerbate this condition." [emphasis mine] Furthermore, Dr. Alfred Bove, president of the American College of Cardiology is quoted as saying, "It probably affects the way insulin is released because if you have a lot of carbohydrates in the diet, you tend to generate a lot of insulin, and insulin is the hormone that lowers blood sugar...In addition to lowering blood sugar, it also increases appetite so a lot of people on high-carb diets are restimulated to eat more." Those are pretty strong endorsements for cutting carbs!! I believe this is the first time I have heard that a major health organization has said that people with metabolic syndrome should not eat a low-fat high-carb diet. (Are you listening, American Diabetes Association?) Photo © A.D.A.M. Related Low-Carb Science: Low-Carb Diets and Cholesterol Insulin Levels Show Who May Benefit from Carb-Cutting Low-Carb Diets Do Not Raise Risk of Heart Attack Low-Carb Diets Improve Cholesterol Even Without Weight Loss American Heart Association Supports Cutting Carbs originally appeared on About.com Low Carb Diets on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 00:59:33.Permalink | Comment | Email this
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