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Higher percentages of saturated fat in low-carb diets may not harm cholesterol levels, new analysis suggests - Stanford Medicine
In the debate of low-fat versus low-carb diets, both can help you shed unwanted weight equally, as long as you’re choosing healthy options. But it turns out a diet composed of fewer carbs and higher percentages of saturated fat might actually have health benefits outside of weight loss — better blood cholesterol levels.
This finding came from a follow up analysis of the DIETFITS study, which set out to contrast the effects of low-carb versus low-fat dieting and determine which was better for losing weight. In a subgroup of 210 low-carb dieters, those who consumed a higher percent of saturated fats as part of their overall diet had better levels of blood lipids, including both higher HDLs (good cholesterol) and lower triglycerides, which are the main type of fat in the blood and in body fat storage.
That's not to say that saturated fats are suddenly exonerated — there's a bit of a catch, said Christopher Gardner, PhD, nutrition expert and senior author of the analysis. Those with the best lipid levels and highest percent of saturated fat intake also ate fewer carbohydrates, particularly added sugars and refined grains.
In the debate of low-fat versus low-carb diets, both can help you shed unwanted weight equally, as long as you’re choosing healthy options. But it turns out a diet composed of fewer carbs and higher percentages of saturated fat might actually have health benefits outside of weight loss — better blood cholesterol levels.
This finding came from a follow up analysis of the DIETFITS study, which set out to contrast the effects of low-carb versus low-fat dieting and determine which was better for losing weight. In a subgroup of 210 low-carb dieters, those who consumed a higher percent of saturated fats as part of their overall diet had better levels of blood lipids, including both higher HDLs (good cholesterol) and lower triglycerides, which are the main type of fat in the blood and in body fat storage.
That's not to say that saturated fats are suddenly exonerated — there's a bit of a catch, said Christopher Gardner, PhD, nutrition expert and senior author of the analysis. Those with the best lipid levels and highest percent of saturated fat intake also ate fewer carbohydrates, particularly added sugars and refined grains.