A low-carbohydrate diet is better than a standard calorie-restricted diet for reducing weight, body fat and insulin resistance, according to researchers at Genesis Prevention Center at University Hospital in South Manchester, England. Following comparison of three diets (a calorie-restricted, low-carbohydrate diet for 2-days per week; an 'ad lib' low-carbohydrate diet in which patients were permitted to eat unlimited protein and healthy fats; and a standard, calorie-restricted daily Mediterranean diet for 7-days per week) during 4-months for effects on weight loss and blood markers of breast cancer risk among 115 women with a family history of breast cancer, researchers concluded that a low carb diet for 2-days per week may be a better dietary approach for preventing breast cancer and other diseases.
Mean reduction in weight and body fat was roughly 4 kg with the intermittent approaches compared with 2.4 kg with the standard dietary approach. Insulin resistance reduced by 22% with the restricted low-carbohydrate diet and by 14% with the 'ad lib' low-carbohydrate diet compared with 4% with the standard Mediterranean diet.
The findings were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Source-Medindia