Study: Low-Carb Has Metabolic Advantage Over Low-Fat Diets

A new research study from Australian scientists found that high-protein, low-carb weight loss methods provide greater nutritional and metabolic advantages than a high-carbohydrate diet such as low-fat or low-calorie.

The results of this breakthrough study is sure to provide a real boost to those of us who are livin' la vida low-carb and may inspire more people to try this healthy and extremely effective alternative to the failed low-carb/low-calorie diets.

The study was published in the June 2005 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and was conducted by researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.

A group of 100 overweight women between the ages of 40 to 58 years old with a body mass index (BMI) between 28 and 38 were involved in the 90-day study. The participants were split into two groups and observed simultaneously: one ate a high-protein diet and the other consumed a high-carbohydrate diet.

Interestingly, both groups had similar weight loss and lowered their cholesterol numbers among other health benefits. However, those who were on a high-protein, low-carb way of eating lost more fat mass than those on a high-carb diet. Additionally, vitamin B-12 rose by 9 percent on the high-protein, low-carb plan and actually DECREASED by 13 percent for those on a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet.

Those of us who have been enjoying the clear metabolic advantage of the low-carb lifestyle already knew this, though. It's amazing how scientific research is so far behind what are already known facts about eating low-carb. But take heart my fellow low-carbers because these kind of studies make us look smarter and smarter about our lifestyle choice being the safe, healthy and effective program that we know it to be.