By: Tim Rigby (Courtesy of Inside Fitness)
The debate rages on as to which type of diet is best for losing weight, burning fat, and improving your cardiovascular health. Some proponents of the Paleo Diet maintain that eliminating carbohydrates do these jobs most effectively, while others cling to the notion that low-fat diets work best. New research from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts) as published in the International Journal of Cardiology, however, suggests that it’s not the type of diet one follows, but rather the healthiness of specific foods one eats that matters most, at least when it comes to heart health. When the scientists put popular specialty diets based on macronutrient manipulation to the test, they found similar results across all types, in terms of cardio effect. All such diets (low-carb, low-fat, etc.) were effective at reducing heart cell damage and therefore improving heart health. Observations were noted as to the under-consumption of recommended fruits and vegetables among average Americans, but when such servings increased, biomarkers of heart health improved. This is just one example that drew researchers to conclude that it’s not the type of diet you consume, but rather, it’s making healthy food choices that really benefit your cardio status best.
