According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, January 25, 2010, a low-carb diet can have a significant effect on high blood pressure. Previous studies have shown that reducing carbohydrate intake provides faster weight loss and improved cholesterol, despite the common assumption that the low-carb diet must be unhealthy.
Low-carb study details
The Jan 2010 study compared weight loss, cholesterol changes, and blood pressure changes in 146 obese patients over the course of 48 weeks. The patients were placed in two groups for the study. One group received education and weight-loss support for a low-carb diet, and the other received education and support for a low-fat, low-calorie diet supplemented by the weight-loss pill orlistat (Also known as Alli or Xenical).
In this study, the low-carb group lost slightly more weight than the diet-pill group. (Low-carbers lost an average of 9.5% of their starting body weight, diet-pill group lost an average of 8.5% of their body weight during the study).
High blood pressure effects
Over the course of the study, the patients on the low-carb plan experienced a drop in blood pressure readings. Systolic blood pressure was reduced by an average of 6 points, and diastolic blood pressure lowered by an average of 4.5 points. The patients taking Alli/Xeneca diet pills increased their blood pressure by an average of 1.5 mm HG (systolic) and .4 mm HG (diastolic).
Earlier low-carb study
Dr. William Yancy, the lead researcher in this low-carb study, conducted another study on the effects of lower-carbohydrate dieting vs. other types of diets in 2004, while at Duke University Medical Center. That study concluded that low-carb diets resulted in more weight loss, as well as a significant improvement in cholesterol.
More information:
Low Carb Dieting to Lose Weight
Low-carb nutrition for help losing weight
Following a Low-carb diet program's rules
Comments
My daughter is a college basketball player. Through a naturopath, she has been on a low carb, low gluten diet for over a year. Her cholesterol and and blood pressure have gone through the roof. Based on our personal experience, I disagree.
I will lose with low carb, but for the first few days I will get very sick. I've done it before and lost weight.. but it is very hard to stick too as a lifestyle.. to never have bread or never have any goodies. I have incorporated some fruit into mine.. but still I got sick. I would like to stay on it .. if I could get past being sick on it. Years ago I could tolerate it better.
I have been preaching this for years. I am living proof. I started low carb 3 years ago to control Type 2 diabetes. I've been off all medications ever since. I also lost 65 lbs. My doctor tells me that whatever I'm doing keep doing it. Blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol (both), lipids, triglycerides, everything they test, is normal or even better, ideal. I'm so passionate about this we started a low carb website with recipes and tips, facebook fan page, and daily blogs on how I live low carb. Check it out at www.ourlowcarblife.com. Become a FB fan to keep in touch
Charlene- it's very common to feel crummy during your first few days of 'detoxing' from a high-carb diet. Some people avoid it by just lowering carbs a bit at a time. The weight loss is slower that way, but it'll still work. :) Also, you don't have to give up on bread and treats- you just have to substitute a lot of things. Try some flax, or almond flour, to make bread, etc.
It's important to point out that low carb doesn't mean avoid carbohydrates all together. We need to avoid refined carbohydrates of course, but healthy carbohydrates that are found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are extremely important for our overall health. Did the research study list the actual amount and type of carbohydrates that were limited? The effects on blood pressure were seen due to the weight loss that the participants experienced.
Kellie-
Actually, since the two groups lost a similar amount of weight, if it were merely the weight loss, both groups would have experienced an improvement in blood pressure.
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