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We’ve seen how chocolate cuts death rate in heart attack survivors and now we’re got another piece of news that may possibly change the way we fight against heart disease. A study performed by Dr. David Jenkins from the St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto (Canada) revealed some impressive new results. A vegan low-carb diet, also known to the world as an eco-Atkins diet, was very effective for weight loss, which isn’t much of a surprise. Apparently, new research from the same team says that this diet may also reduce the risk of developing heart disease by 10% over the course of 10 years.
A Vegan Low-Carb Diet Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease
According to the scientists who did the research, the key to reducing the risk of heart disease is not only a low-carb diet, but also a vegan one. Eating animal proteins and fats will increase cholesterol. This can build up in the walls of blood vessels, cause blockages, and increase the risk of developing heart disease. A vegan diet, rich in vegetable proteins and oils and low in carbohydrates, will lower the LDL, which is the bad cholesterol.
The eco-Atkins diet consists of foods that are both vegan and low in carbs, so the team of scientists wanted to see if the diet could lower the risk of getting heart disease. The team assessed 39 overweight people between April 2005 and November 2006. They were divided into two groups. One followed the eco-Atkins for half a year and the other ate a high-carb low-fat diet.
At the end of the research, it was found that those who followed the eco-Atkins diet had 10% less cholesterol and had lost 4 pounds on average. The group that was on the vegan low-carb diet was told that they should get 26% of their calories from carbs, 31% from proteins and 435 from fats, which are mainly vegetable oils. The bottom line is that the results of this study translated into a 10% reduced risk of heart disease over a period of 10 years.
Of course, further trials are needed to confirm these results, but they are promising. Does this study motivate you enough to try a vegan low-carb diet? Do you care about your health that much to give up milk and dairy? Would you do it if your doctor told you to? Leave us a comment in the section below and tell us what your thoughts are on this subject. We would love to hear from you.
