The “low-carb diet” comes in many forms, from the Atkins diet to the paleo diet or the newest, the keto diet. But a new study suggests that eating a diet low in carbs actually increases your risk of early death.
For this study, published in the Lancet Public Health, almost 15,000 U.S. adults were tracked for 25 years. Those who ate a moderate number of carbs—meaning they got 50 to 55 percent of their energy from carbohydrates—had the lowest risk of mortality. Those who got more than 70 percent of their energy from carbs had a higher risk of mortality, as expected. But surprisingly, the highest risk was seen in those who go less than 40 percent of their energy from carbs—the low-carb dieters.
According to the researchers, low-carb diets where carbs are replaced with animal meat, full of animal protein and fat, lead to early death. That’s not great news for keto believers.
So just eat your pasta – but don’t go crazy. The secret is moderation!
