SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. Rapidly accumulating evidence points to postprandial lipemia (high cholesterol and triglyceride levels after the intake of a fatty meal) as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. This has led to a recommendation to reduce the intake of fat and increase the consumption of carbohydrates. A team of medical researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Tokyo Medical and Dental University now questions this recommendation. Recent research has shown that high carbohydrate diets increase fasting plasma triglyceride concentrations and that high fasting triglyceride concentrations tend to correlate with a greater degree of postprandial lipemia. Inasmuch as triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are highly atherogenic (ie. involved in the development of atherosclerosis) it would seem prudent to question the current thinking that high carbohydrate diets help protect against heart disease. The study involved four healthy men and four healthy women (mean age of 57 years). The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 consumed a diet containing 40 per cent carbohydrates, 15 per cent protein, and 45 per cent fat while the diet for the second group contained 60 per cent carbohydrate, 15 per cent protein, and 25 per cent fat. The diets contained the same amount of calories and saturated fat was less than 10 per cent of total calories in both. The ratio of polyunsaturated fat to monounsaturated fat was 0.9 in both diets. The participants consumed one of the two diets for 14 days and then switched to the other one after a two-week wash-out period.Cholesterol, lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels were determined at the start of the experiment, on the morning of the 15th day of the two diet periods, and at two-hour intervals during the 15th day. The researchers found that a high carbohydrate diet increases the level of triglycerides, decreases the level of HDL ("good") cholesterol, and markedly increases the level of the so- called RLP (remnant lipoprotein) cholesterol that is believed to be highly atherogenic. They also found that the detrimental changes in lipid profile persisted throughout the day in response to breakfast and lunch. They conclude that substituting carbohydrates for saturated fat leads to lower HDL concentrations and higher triglyceride levels and that a lowering of LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels can be accomplished equally well by replacing saturated fat with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats as by substituting carbohydrates for saturated fat. Abbasi, Fahim, et al. High carbohydrate diets, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and coronary heart disease risk. American Journal of Cardiology, Vol. 85, January 1, 2000, pp. 45-48
Comment: The common conception that carbs should be the bulk of our diet, in the form of grains, cereals & breads, has been promoted for over 35 years by the USDA in what is called The Food Pyramid. The Food Pyramid was not based on true science. Since that time, type 2 diabetes has increased over 35% in this country. It does not appear that their recommendation was good for us, if you study the stats. Also, while Monounsaturated Fats are the best, Saturated Fats have had a bad rap as well. It is my opinion and the opinion of many other researchers, that this increase in type 2 Diabetes as well as the high rate of Heart Disease, should be attributed more to the increased intake of High Glycemic Carbs, so prevalent in the American Diet. If you would like to reduce carbs in your diet, but find it too difficult to stop eating enough of them to make a big difference, try another natural approach, NSI Carb Blocker. This product blocks the enzyme responsible for the absorption of carbohydrates.
CW
Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.
Visit our website at: www.cwiechert.com
Have your nutritional questions answered by e-mail: www.cwiechert.com/QAMAIL.html
