Low-Carb diets kicks blood pressure booty

Elevated blood pressure takes a licking from a low-carb diet.

So once again we have study validating statements we low-carbers have been making for years.

In a Duke study funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs, research author William S. Yancy, Jr., MD studied 146 overweight participants for a year, comparing the results of two different weight loss therapies. Pitted against each other were the drug Orlistat with a low-fat diet and a low carbohydrate diet. Unlike typical study participants, these subjects had a health problems that are generally associated with obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

The average weight loss in both groups were 10% of their body weight. But weight loss wasn’t the only thing they were looking at in this study. Researchers were surprised to see that 47% of the low-carb dieters were able to decrease or discontinue their blood pressure medications, while the low-fat/Orlistat group only saw an improvement of 21% in the same area.

In reality this is no surprise at all. At least it isn’t to those who have been living the low-carb lifestyle. Dr. Atkins told us about this wonderful benefit years ago. Page 110 of the 2002 version of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution states the following:

“What happens to blood pressure on Atkins? It goes down. Nothing is more consistently or more rapidly observed than normalization of blood pressure.”

He then goes on to give a case study showing just how quickly a low-carb diet can work on lowering elevated blood pressure.

Low-carb doctors all over the world have been trying to spread the word that low-carb living can do more than just help you lose weight. Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level is just one of many benefits this lifestyle has to offer.  We all have to choices to make and hopefully we’ve educated ourselves to the fullest before we make them.

Drugs and a low-fat, less-than-effective, I’m-starving-death diet? No thanks. Lets stick with whole, real, healthy low-carb foods and avoid unnecessary drugs. Unlike Orlistat, the only side-effects with low-carb are renewed health and amazing weight-loss.

I’ve made my decision. What about you? I’d love to hear your success stories with lowering or dumping medications thanks to your healthy low-carb lifestyle. Drop a comment in the box below and share! :)