Low-carb diets rich in plant-based fats and proteins have been associated with less long-term weight gain, according to a recent study. Eating whole grains and plant-based proteins and fats may help prevent long-term weight gain, the study revealed.
Researchers at Harvard University in the US found that this type of low-carbohydrate, or low-carb, diet was preferable for long-term weight maintenance when tested against diets heavy in meat and refined carbs.
Researchers have found that while low-carb diets have been associated with beneficial short-term weight gains, little study has looked at how these diets affect our weight over the long term.
According to the US-based Mayo Clinic, a diet low in carbs emphasizes meals strong in protein and fat rather than grains and starchy foods.
“To carb or not to carb? is not the only question our research addresses.” Lead author of the study Binkai Liu, a research assistant in Harvard’s nutrition department, stated in a statement.
“It dissects the low-carbohydrate diet and provides a nuanced look at how the composition of these diets can affect health over years, not just weeks or months.”The results were released in the journal JAMA Network Open last week.
In total, more than 120,000 participants took part in the three investigations that were carried out between 1986 and 2018. Participants provided self-reported updates on their weight and diets every four years.
The researchers examined five different low-carb diets, with some emphasizing more fat and protein from plant sources and others focusing more on animal sources.
The study concluded that their results imply that a low-carb diet’s quality “may play a critical role in modulating long-term weight change”.
Read More: https://thecareworld.com/
