Low-carb diet founds to be good for heart health

For retirement-age individuals looking for ways to improve their cardiovascular health, SeniorJournal.com reports that results of a new study show that a diet low in carbohydrates may be more effective than a low-fat diet when it comes heart health.


"Despite the conventional wisdom that a low-carbohydrate diet would actually make cardiovascular risk factors worse, it appears ... that a low-carbohydrate diet was associated with significant improvements," lead author of the study lead author Gary Foster told the news source.


The research focused on 307 patients who were randomly assigned a low-carb or low-fat diet.

Their weight was measured after two years and other factors were monitored throughout the duration of the study. When the data was compiled, it was found that the HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels in the low-carb dieters increased by 23 percent.


According to a 2008 report by the United States Congress, obesity among older adults is becoming a growing problem. The commission estimates that by the end of 2010, 37 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will be obese. Along with a good diet, leading an active lifestyle can be one way to maintain a healthy weight.


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