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Low fat diet better for mood than low carb
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New research, published in the November 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine shows that dieters who consumed a low fat diet for a year experienced mood improvement compared to a group given a very low carbohydrate diet. A low fat diet might be best for improving mood, versus a low carbohydrate diet, though both are shown to lead to weight loss.
For the study, 106 adults were split into two groups - 55 study participants were randomly assigned to follow a very low-carbohydrate, high fat diet and 51 to a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. The diet was followed for one year, showing that those who ate low fat had sustained mood improvement compared to those consuming a very low carbohydrate diet.
Researchers assessed cognitive function, mood and well-being among the two groups during the study and following. Both groups lost an average of 30.2 pounds, and both experienced mood improvement after the first eight weeks of dieting. Comparing the two, the group who followed a low fat diet also maintained feelings of well-being, while psychological function among the very low carbohydrate group returned to baseline.
The study was conducted by Grant D. Brinkworth, Ph.D., of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation–Food and Nutritional Sciences, Adelaide, Australia and colleague. The authors say a low fat diet might be better for mood because it is so difficult to restrict carbohydrates, given the prevalence of pasta and breads typically associated with a Western diet. Another explanation is that serotonin levels in the brain could be altered by protein and fat intake. A recent study shows that fatty foods signal our brain to eat more.
The authors write, "Further studies are required to evaluate the effects of these diets on a wider range of cognitive domains. For now, if you are looking for a diet plan that leads to weight loss and improves mood, it might be possible that choosing a low fat, high carbohydrate diet could deliver both.
(Arch Intern Med. 2009;169[20]:1873-1880
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