Recent research at the University of Surrey has revealed that limiting carbohydrate consumption in the dietwithout the need to apply a drastic caloric reduction, it could generate metabolic benefits similar to those of intermittent fasting.
The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, analyzed people with overweight or obesity between 20 and 65 years. The participants followed three different food plans for a day: a normal diet rich in carbohydrates, a low carbohydrate diet with a balanced caloric intake and a low carbohydrate diet with a significant caloric restriction.
The results were surprising. In both versions of the low carbohydrates diet, Participants showed improvements in their metabolic markersas a better management of fats after a lipid -rich meal and a reduction in triglycerid levels – a blood fat associated with cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the body showed a greater tendency to use fat as a source of energy.
The option to reduce carbohydrate intake
“We discover that simply restricting carbohydrates, without supporting an extreme caloric restriction, we can reap the metabolic effects associated with fasting fasting,” said Dr. Adam Collins, co -author of the study and associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey. “This suggests that periodically reducing our carbohydrate intake could be a more accessible form and sustainable for people to control and improve their metabolic health. “
Although participants reported Feel more hunger during the days of low carbohydrate intakethe study did not find a compensatory increase in food consumption in later days. This suggests that the body could adapt over time to this type of food, facilitating its long -term adhesion.
For Collins, these findings offer “A new and promising perspective on dietary interventions for metabolic health “ And they could have a relevant impact on the treatment and prevention of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
