Low carbohydrate diets have been on the scene for several decades, with a low carb diet being the first choice for most people trying to lose weight. But are these carb deficit diets good for anything else? Well, science has had a look into the effects of low carbohydrate diets on our cholesterol, and this article will take a look at what it found out!
To state an early conclusion, low carbohydrate diets are proven to help lower the levels of triglycerides in your body, ultimately leading to higher levels of HDL and lower levels of LDL, which is what anybody with high cholesterol should aim for.
Triglycerides are the form in which fat stores in our body’s. When you pinch your skin and grab that excess fat, it is basically a build-up of triglycerides, which is most commonly known as just, fat. Just like somebody looking to lose extra weight for other reasons, people with high cholesterol levels should look into low carbohydrate diets, as they have been shown to decrease the overall amount of triglycerides in your body, significantly! The longer you indulge in low-carb foods, the longer you will continue to lose that extra fat, so the risks of heart disease or strokes are reduced day by day, consistently.
Cholesterol, both HDL and LDL are basically a type of fat. A fat which clogs out blood vessels, restricting blood flow and increasing our chances of heart problems. Low carbohydrate diets are a great way to reduce the overall levels of fat in our body, leading to reduced cholesterol. Obviously, our bodies want to preserve as much HDL as possible, as this is the type of cholesterol we need. So when we partake in a new type of diet, we need to make sure our HDL levels will remain safe right? Well, a low carbohydrate diet will simultaneously increase the levels of HDL in our body, whilst at the same time, decreasing the levels of LDL.
Low carbohydrate diets are a great way to keep cholesterol levels under control, but they should not be relied on entirely. If high cholesterol is a problem of yours, make sure you check up with your GP every couple of months, to monitor the problem and gain valuable advice. Carbohydrates are a vital nutrient, and without them, our body would be left feeling empty and without energy, so try not to lower your intake of carbohydrates too much. Removing carbohydrates from your diet completely will have the opposite effect to lowering them slightly, so try and aim to consume at least 50 grams each day.
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