It seems like they’re talking about low-carb, or “keto” style, diets everywhere these days. You can’t turn on the TV, open a magazine, or visit your favorite health website without the topic popping up.
Heck, I even regularly encourage low-carb eating here in Healthier Talk.
But if you’ve wondered whether or not it’s for you, you’re not alone. Lots of folks, especially seniors, are understandably skeptical about any “new” diet that comes down the pike.
After all, you’ve earned those gray hairs and the wisdom that comes with them. And you’ve seen more fad diets come and go than there are feathers on a chicken.
But the truth is keto-style eating isn’t really a diet. It’s a lifestyle change. And it’s not really all that new either. In fact, a version of it was first popularized back in the early 1970s.
And now, researchers say they have proof positive that going low carb can have HUGE health benefits for seniors. In fact, the new study results, published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, are nothing short of remarkable.
Now you don’t need me to tell you that when you’re carrying around some extra pounds, you’re also more likely to be battling a few other health issues too.
Experts say seniors who are obese are at a particularly high risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Which is what makes the results of the new randomized trial so exciting. Because according to researchers eating a very low carb diet isn’t just a VERY effective way for seniors to lose weight. It’s SAFE too.
In fact, despite being told to maintain their current weight during the study, volunteer’s eating low-carb foods watched their weight and fat mass plummet.
Low-fat versus low-carbohydrate diets for seniors
For the study, researchers recruited 34 obese men and women between the ages of 60 and 75. The volunteers were randomly divided into two groups…
- Group One was put on a standard low-fat weight loss diet.
- Group Two was put on a very low-carbohydrate diet.
For the eight week study, the Group Two folks were told they shouldn’t try to lose weight. In fact, they were asked to try to eat enough to maintain their current weight. And to help them do just that, they were instructed to eat AT LEAST three eggs a day.
And the results were beyond impressive.
Not only did the low-carb-eating folks effortlessly lose more weight than those who were on a traditional low-fat diet. They shed their spare tires while feeling full and satisfied the entire time.
8 weeks to “perfect health” with low carb
And the benefits didn’t end there. Not by a long shot.
You’re probably wondering about their cholesterol or what docs like to call “lipid levels.” The researchers wanted to know too. Because not only do low-carb diets tend to be higher in fat, in this case, the volunteers were eating a TON of rich and delicious eggs too.
Now, if you’re a regular Healthier Talk reader, this next part might not surprise you TOO much. Because I’ve been preaching the benefits of eggs AND low-carb eating for many years now. (CLICK HERE to discover 5 astonishing reasons to eat MORE eggs.) But it turns out Group Two’s blood cholesterol levels remained rock steady at the end of the eight weeks.
Plus, Group Two saw significant improvements in their lipid levels AND insulin sensitivity. Back out in the real world, that means both their heart disease and type two diabetes risks took a nosedive.
This means going low carb might be the best option for you too. Why not check with your doc for a thumbs up and then give low-carb a try? The only thing you’ve got to lose is that belly and maybe some of your prescription meds. Oh, and don’t forget the delicious, nutrition-packed eggs.
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