A low-carbohydrate diet is effective in treating various metabolic diseases, able to meet nutritional needs | News India

Washington: The popularity of low-carbohydrate diets is growing rapidly. It is particularly popular among women. A low-carb diet contains less than 130 grams of carbohydrates per day. Similarly, a very low-carb diet contains less than 20–50 grams of carbohydrates per day or less than 10 percent of energy from carbohydrates. Several studies have shown that a low-carb diet is effective in treating various metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and polycystic ovary syndrome. A low-carbohydrate diet can meet a person's nutritional needs, according to a study examining questions raised about the nutritional quality of such diets. A low-carbohydrate diet is commonly recommended to diabetics to control sugar levels. This includes limiting the intake of foods high in carbohydrates or sugar, including sweets, starches, and refined grains. Additionally, a low-carb diet provides many other health benefits, including weight loss.

Researchers from the University of Vermont in the US said some argue that reducing carbohydrates leads to higher consumption of protein or fat and lower consumption of essential nutrients. For the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, they evaluated the nutritional value of three different seven-day low-carb diets. Two were ketogenic diets. One consumed an average of 20 grams of net carbs per day while the other consumed an average of 40 grams of net carbs per day. A third included an average of 100 grams of refined carbohydrates per day. All three diet plans exceeded the requirements of vitamins A, C, D, E, K, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folate and B12 in men and women aged 31-70 years. Calcium intake was higher than normal for adults aged 31-50 years during the same period. “Our findings suggest that in addition to aiding weight management, a low-carbohydrate eating pattern actually promotes better diet quality and may be helpful in reducing key nutrient deficiencies,” said study co-author Beth Bradley of the University of Vermont.