Following a low-carb diet has once again shown to have significant health benefits, according to research.
The study, carried out by Dr David Unwin, has shown ditching stodgy carbs improves high-blood pressure, which is the second biggest known global risk factor for disease after poor diet.
In a previous trial the low-carb diet had already shown promising results in improving hypertension, weight and reducing medication needs.
But Dr Unwin wanted to further investigate these findings among a bigger group of people in a real-world setting.
This latest study involved 154 people who either had type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance from Dr Unwin’s Southport practice, Norwood Surgery.
They were asked to follow a low-carb diet for two years and over the course of that time their cardiovascular health was examined.
The findings showed they experienced “significant and substantial” reductions in blood pressure and weight, which led to a 20 per cent decrease in the amount of medication the group as a whole were taking.
Dr Unwin said: “This novel and potentially highly effective dietary modification, done very cheaply alongside routine care, offers hope that should be tested in a large prospective trial.”
Read the full study here.
