A low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet high in plant-based proteins may help improve blood cholesterol and other heart disease risk factors in overweight individuals, new research suggests.
Scientists from St. Michaels Hospital and the University of Toronto in Canada analyzed overweight men and women with high LDL cholesterol levels. A total of 25 participants were assigned to consume a low-carbohydrate diet high in vegetable proteins from gluten, soy, nuts, fruits, vegetables, cereals and vegetable oils for four weeks.
Meanwhile, the other 25 ate a control diet that was high-carbohydrate, lacto-ovo vegetarian and based on low-fat dairy and whole grain products.
After four weeks, the weight loss was similar in both groups, about 8.8 pounds, but reductions in LDL cholesterol levels and improvements in the ratios between total cholesterol and HDL-C were greater for the low-carbohydrate diet participants.
Those who are concerned about their weight may also try the alkaline diet, which is rich in citrus fruits, vegetables, tubers, nuts and legumes and may boost bone health into old age.
Meanwhile, health practitioners have also recommended nutritional supplements containing niacin, fish oil and red yeast rice extract to help combat high cholesterol. 