Science proved years ago that the best way to lose weight and live longer is to reduce the number of calories you eat each day. But now there is evidence that counting calories is not enough. In fact, a new study suggests that you can keep your calories low, but still have a heart attack.
In the study, researchers took 120 adults and gave them two different diets. Both diets had the exact same calorie count, but the calories came from very different foods. The first group ate a diet rich in living foods, soy, legumes and whole grains. The second group ate a diet rich in packaged reduced-fat foods, such as low-fat cheese, lunch meat, diet soft drinks, and fat-free cookies.
Other than that, the two diets were identical. They had the same total fat, saturated fat, protein, carbohydrates, and cholesterol content. The total calories in the diets were identical and exercise patterns were unchanged.
After four weeks, the researchers found that those in the plant-based diet group had their bad cholesterol levels drop by 9.4%. The other group saw a drop in their bad cholesterol as well, but only by 4.6%. The drop in the plant-based groups bad cholesterol was by twice as much!
The lead author admitted that most doctors trivialize diet. Some even say diet does not matter at all. Instead they would rather put you on drugs. And, thanks to all the ads on TV, radio, and in print, most Americans think these drugs are the best way to lower their cholesterol. And people wonder why health (sickness) care expenses are going into the next galaxy.
I do not know how many ways I can say it. You do not need drugs. Its not a deficiency of drugs in your body, or a sudden change in our genetic makeup that created the cholesterol epidemic. A 9.4% drop in cholesterol is not trivial – no matter how its achieved. Bad cholesterol (known as LDL) is a major factor in heart attacks. So keeping it low is vital. But the importance of this study goes well beyond cholesterol.
If you are trying to lose weight by eating fewer calories, do not eat the diet junk food that is on the market. These can kill you just as effectively as the regular junk food. The quality of what you eat is the earmark for your health and longevity. So make sure you eat a predominantly plant-based diet. Your arteries will love you for it.