RIP CALORIE RESTRICTION. Long live carb control? A new study from the University of Surrey suggests that rather than dramatically reducing calories, something many people these days achieve through intermittent fasting, you can achieve similar metabolic benefits by cutting back on carbs.
In the study, participants aged 20-65 years who were overweight or obese, followed three different diet plans for one day: a normal carb diet, a low-carb diet with balanced calorie intake, and a low-carb diet with significant calorie restriction.
Researchers found that both low-carb diets, regardless of calorie reduction, led to improvements in the participants’ metabolic markers, and better handling of a high fat meal, including reduced levels of triglycerides – a type of fat in the blood that may lead to heart disease – and a shift towards burning fat for energy.
If you think this sounds a little like the Keto diet, in which you consume a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that aims to induce a metabolic state called ketosis, then you’re probably right, though the study does not state whether the participants’ meals were high in fat, only that they were low carb.
“We found that by simply restricting carbohydrates, without enduring extreme calorie restriction, we can reap the metabolic effects associated with short-term fasting,” says study author Dr Adam Collins. “This suggests that periodically reducing our carbohydrate intake could be a more accessible and sustainable way for people to manage and improve their metabolic health.”
The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, also highlighted that while participants experienced increased hunger on the low-carb days, it didn’t translate into increased food intake over the following two days.
This suggests that the body may adapt to the reduced carb intake, potentially making it easier to adhere to this diet in the long term.
“This research offers a promising new perspective on dietary interventions for metabolic health and could have an impact on managing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity,” says Dr Collins.
When it comes to your health, feasting (just not on carbs) may beat famine.
Related:
Intermittent fasting no better than standard diets for longevity: study
Mark Wahlberg shares his 5kg weight loss and insane leg day after 63-hour fast
