A meta-analysis of 147 randomized controlled trials found that low-carb diets improved HDL, triglycerides, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers. LDL cholesterol rose slightly, averaging 4.81 mg/dL, which the speaker calls clinically insignificant. The research contradicts the claim that low-carb diets harm heart health.
Have you ever had anyone tell you that low-carb diets are bad for your heart? Well, they're misinformed. A major new meta-analysis of 147 randomized controlled trials looked at how carbohydrate-restriction diets affect cardiovascular health, and the results were clear. Low-carb diets consistently improved HDL, triglycerides, LDL-to-HDL ratio, triglyceride-to-HDL ratio, ApoB to ApoA-1 ratio, several key inflammatory markers like TNF-alpha and CRP, obesity metrics, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular health. Now, the analysis did find that LDL cholesterol, the boogeyman of cardiology, increased by an average of 4.81 mg/dL. But using that to argue that low-carb diets are harmful to heart health is like calling a 16-ounce ribeye steak a plant-based meal because you cracked some black pepper on it. It's ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
