Health Alert 120
The mainstream medical community is still fishing for reasons to call low carb diets dangerous. Despite a few concessions, they persist in claiming that the long term health effects are unknown. But, until modern times, humans had been eating a low carb diet for over 2 million years. How much more time do they need?
We know that our ancestors ate a high protein diet, low carb diet. The few hunter-gatherer societies that remain today maintain a low carb diet and do not have obesity or heart disease. The truth is; that is our natural diet. It will keep you trim and protect you from heart disease and diabetes.
In this letter I’ll address some of the red-herrings raised by the conventional nutritionists. I’ll show you why each supposed danger is no danger at all. I’ll also give you simple tips on creating a low carb diet for yourself.
Health Risks that Aren’t
Cardiac
“Several recent studies have shown that low-carb diets do not increase total cholesterol or LDL and in some cases may improve overall lipid profiles.”1
Two studies found the participants on the low-carb diet had improved triglycerides.2,3
There has yet to be any evidence to suggest that low carb diets increase your cardiac risk.
Kidney
If you have severe kidney disease, a high protein diet can accelerate deterioration in renal function. For those adults with healthy kidneys, high protein diets do not cause renal injury.
One study focused on diet and renal function following a number of women over 11-year time period. No negative effect was seen in the women with normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) who ate a high protein diet.4
Bone Density
Diets high in protein and calcium improve the bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly patients.
There is no evidence that high protein diets cause loss of bone density although I often hear this claim repeated.
There is only a hypothesis. The hypothesis is that bone provides buffers to counteract the mild academia of ketones and this may negatively affect BMD. A hypothesis that clamors for a long-term study.
Low-Carb is Your Natural Diet
Maintaining a healthy weight is paramount to your longevity and good health. A low carb diet will keep you trim and protect you from heart disease, diabetes and bone loss. Follow these simple rules for healthy low-carb eating:
- Avoid anything made from grains or potatoes.
Eat low glycemic vegetables like tomatoes broccoli, eggplant, mushrooms and green beans.
Eat low glycemic fruit like strawberries, blueberries, peaches, cherries and plums.
Eat quality protein with every meal.
Boost your Omega-3 fat content by eating fish, eggs, nuts and seeds.
Al Sears, MD
1. Sanders, Lisa. “Protein Power: The Myths and Realities of Low-Carb Diets.” Cortlandt Forum, V. 16 N. 7:29.
2. Brehm B, Seeley RJ, Daniels SR, D’Alessio DA. A randomized trial comparing a very low carbohydrate diet and a calorie-restricted low fat diet on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88:1617, 2003.
3. Samaha FF, Iqbal N, Seshadri P, et al. A low carbohydrate as compared with a low-fat diet in severe obesity. New England Journal of Medicine 348:2074, 2003.
4. Knight EL, Stampfer MJ, Hankinson SE, et al. The impact of protein intake on renal function decline in women with normal renal function or mild renal insufficiency. Ann Intern Med 138:460, 2003.