Cutting carbs could be increasing your chance of death.
A new study has found low-carb diets result in a "small but significant increase in mortality". But before you go loading up on bread and pasta, the same study - published in The Lancet Public Health - found the same for diets high in carbs.
Researchers from the US looked at data covering more than 15,400 people. Those on diets where carbohydrates made up less than 40 percent or more than 70 percent of the total energy intake had higher risks of death than those on moderate intakes - around 50 to 55 percent.
"We need to look really carefully at what are the healthy compounds in diets that provide protection," said Dr Sara Seidelmannof Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who led the research.
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But if you insist on going down the Keto route, stay away from meat protein.
"Low-carb diets that replace carbohydrates with protein or fat are gaining widespread popularity as a health and weight loss strategy," said Dr Seidelmannof.
"However, our data suggests that animal-based low carbohydrate diets, which are prevalent in North America and Europe, might be associated with shorter overall life span and should be discouraged. Instead, if one chooses to follow a low carbohydrate diet, then exchanging carbohydrates for more plant-based fats and proteins might actually promote healthy ageing in the long term."
For someone aged 50, going on a low-carb diet could take as much as four years off their lifespan, the research suggested.
Newshub.
