BBC News: Low-carb diets could shorten life, study suggests

Before eating loads of carbs guys please consider these points.

Low carb diets often result in lower intake of veggies, fruits and whole grains and an increase in animal fats and proteins associated with inflammation. In the study, when carbs were replaced with fat and protein from plant sources instead of animal sources, this was associated with LOWER mortality.

This was not an epidemiological study, which means its not controlled. Participants were followed over time but left to do as they wanted. So that means there are many confounding factors making it difficult to point to carbs as the causal factor.

The authors measured participants diet with food frequency questionnaires, which are very unreliable (people cheat, forget, misinterpret their diets). The questionnaire was only given at the time of enrolment and 6 years later with a mortality assessment after 25 years. Diets could have changed over the subsequent 19 years. Drawing conclusions from that is clutching at straws.

My advice: low carb and low grain diets are extremely useful and safe in clinic in some cases, and again this depends on the individual. If doing so, up fat and protein from plant sources as opposed to animal sources. Carbs to consume include veggies, legumes, fruit, sweet potato. Whole grains are fine for those without gluten sensitivities and intolerance.

Link to BBC news article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45195474

Reference: Seidelmann, S.B., Claggett, B., Cheng, S., Henglin, M., Shah, A., Steffen, L.M., Folsom, A.R., Rimm, E.B., Willett, W.C. and Solomon, S.D., 2018. Dietary carbohydrate intake and mortality: a prospective cohort study and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health.