Prolonged Low Carb Dieting Can Kill You

April 2nd, 2007 · 4 Comments

Subscribe to my newsletter and get a Free 40-page report - Skyrocket Your Fat Loss Success ($27 Value).

fat loss research Are you on a low-carb diet?

Have you been low-carbing for 5-12 years?

If you are, you may want to continue reading because what I’m going to tell you may save your life.

I don’t doubt low-carb diets like Atkins and South Beach Diet are effective ways to lose weight. Studies find that low-carb diets are far superior for weight loss than conventional ones.

A diet characterized by low carbohydrate and high protein intake was associated with increased total and particularly cardiovascular mortality amongst women - J Intern Med

But most of these studies are short term studies. The long term effects of low-carb diets on health are not fully understood till now.

A recent study finds that a long-term low-carb and high-protein dieting is associated with an increase in total mortality and CVD. Put simply, prolonged low-carb high-protein diet raises your odds of dying and getting heart diseases.

This study deserves attention because it’s a long-term study following a large sample. The study follows 42, 237 Swedish women who answered an extensive questionnaire after a 12-years follow-up.

So should you continue low-carbing?

Based on this study, it’s advisable not to low-carb for many years. Once you reach your target weight loss on a low-carb diet, you should probably stop low-carb dieting and replace it with a more balanced diet.

However, I’ve not read the full study, and I could probably dissect and dismantle the study’s design. If not me, other scientists and low-carb experts will sure to dispute this study.

Reference:

Low carbohydrate-high protein diet and mortality in a cohort of Swedish women.

4 responses so far ↓

1 WLFG // Apr 3, 2007 at 1:40 am

Go into my archives and read what I wrote about the Atkins Diet… it didn’t kill me, that’s pretty obvious, but needless to say I felt the pain.

This is kind of belated, but thanks for coming to my blog, reading and commenting! At the time I thought you were a friend of mine, also named Ruby, and didn’t bother responding to what you’d written.

When I did realize it wasn’t who I thought it was, I came here right away and read your stuff… and liked it so much you’re now on my blogroll.

Anyway, keep up the good work. And yes, prolonged low carb dieting can kill you, I totally agree.
2 Ruby Lee // Apr 3, 2007 at 1:57 am

Thanks for reading and commenting WLFG.

I’m glad you did something before the pain got worse.

Also thanks for the nice words. You make my day.
3 uncle sha // Apr 3, 2007 at 1:03 pm

I’ve always been fascinated by Atkins diet thou I’ve not tried it myself

I mean its a dream diet with low carb which essentially means more likely you’ll lose weight but it has its flaws lah, with differing side effects on various individuals

well at least recent studies as seen here as reference, has shown atkins is not the ‘magical’ diet eh … some ppl forget its not just diet but also the workout aspects

pubmed is a resource haven for health stuff. i used to use it daily when i was doing a health module, now haha, thanks for reminding me its still exist
4 Ruby Lee // Apr 5, 2007 at 1:49 am

I guess everyone reacts differently on a diet, even atkins.

yup pubmed is a great resource.

Burn Fat Review

How to Bitch Slap Your Fat Away Permanently and Make your Partner go Wild