Low-Carb Diets Increase Risk of Heart Disease

A low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet greatly boosts risk of heart disease, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal. The diets of nearly 44,000 Swedish women were tracked for about 16 years. Those who ate a diet low in carbohydrates and high in protein increased their risk of heart disease. Here is the math: Every 10 percent decrease in carbohydrate intake or increase in protein intake resulted in a 5 percent increased risk of heart disease. The risk of heart disease increased even further as carbohydrate intake fell and protein intake climbed. Women sometimes adopt low-carbohydrate diets for weight loss, however, this study and many previous studies show low-carb and high-protein diets to be dangerous.