To shine a light on the total benefits of cutting calories, researchers studied a group of 218 individuals over the course of two years. Half of the group cut their total calorie intake by 25 percent for two years, while the other group stuck to their normal eating patterns. Activity levels and mood were measured throughout the study, and at the conclusion of the two years, researchers uncovered that those who cut calories reported:

• An average loss of 10 percent of their body weight, or about 16.5 pounds.
• An improved quality of life.
• Better sleep quality
• Improved sexual function
• Brighter moods

Study first author Corby Martin said that when people stuck to their diet, they noticed the benefits of weight loss extended beyond dropping a few jean sizes.

“What people report is that after they ‘get over the hump’ and start to lose weight, their hunger levels subside a bit and they start to feel the benefits of the weight loss,” said Martin. “They find it easier to move around, their joints hurt less, they feel better.”

Although the benefits are clear, Martin understands that sticking to a diet, especially over the course of two years, is no easy task. He said it’s easy to fall into bad habits, but the long-term benefits are undeniable.

“Even though they achieve those benefits, it is just really hard to adhere to these diets over the long term, at least in today’s society,” Martin says. “They’re minnows trying to swim upstream, in a world where it’s very easy to overconsume calories.”

Martin also noted that some people went back to their old eating habits after the study, while others stuck to their reduced eating plan and kept the weight off. He plans to issue a formal analysis of the follow up study in the near future.

The post Cutting Calories Has Benefits Beyond Weight Loss appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

Nutritional scientist Dr. T. Colin Campbell said that low-carb diets are a “fraud” and that reducing your carbohydrate intake could lead to heart disease and cancer.

“Low-carb, high-protein, high-fat diets cause high cholesterol – a major indicator of heart disease and cancer risks,” said Dr. Campbell in an interview with Elle.com.

Misguided View

While certain carbs are necessary for optimal bodily functions, gratuitously consuming carbohydrate-packed crackers and pastas can put individuals at risk for heart disease. As Dr. Beverly Teter explained, excess carbs raise cholesterol levels, which can cause inflammation inside a person’s arteries.

“It’s the inflammation in the vessels that start the lesion,” said Dr. Teter. “The body then sends the cholesterol like a scab to cover over it to protect the blood system and the vessel wall from further damage.”

Diets low in carbohydrates have the opposite effect, preventing inflammation from ever forming and in some cases, reversing the damage.

Dr. Silverman comments

Dr. Campbell’s views and his work on The China Study act as proof to the old adage, “statistics don’t lie, statisticians do.”

Anyone who is familiar with Campbell’s book and the criticisms of the medical community knows that anything he says can no longer be believed as true. Denise Minger provides a great criticism of The China Study on her blog. Not only does she call out many of the study’s shortcomings, the post acts as a reminder to question what you’re reading.

Dr. Campbell’s latest moronic outpouring of condemnation of low-carbohydrate diets demonstrates that this fictional author should remain quiet. As we’ve blogged about before, low-carbohydrate diets have been linked to a reduction in neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, have helped individuals lose weight and keep it off, and can keep people from developing an addiction to carbohydrate-dense foods.

Cut the carbs and live a happier and healthier life.

Related source: NaturalNews.com

The post The Misguided Approach to Carbohydrates  appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.