According to a new study, it is more important to eat better than religiously count the calories consumed.
The scientists from Stanford University found that there was no significant difference in weight change obtained by a low-carbohydrate diet or a low-fat diet. The research was conducted over 609 participants and they were followed for 12 months. The participants who chose unprocessed, whole foods had similar weight loss by following both low-carb and low-fat diets.[1]
The study also revealed that there was no specific insulin level that was associated with weight loss. Also, there was no specific gene pattern that influenced which diet enhanced weight loss.
Maya Feller, a dietitian from New York, emphasized that eating better is more important than maintaining an 1,800-calorie diet. You must consume whole, unprocessed foods that don’t have excess sugar, salt and unsaturated fats. Staying within strict calorie limit doesn’t always ensure that you are making good nutritional choices. Consuming a pack of biscuits with 100 calories will not provide as much nutrition as consuming fresh vegetables and fruits would.
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This study emphasized learning what foods could provide lowest carb and lowest fats. The focus was to adapt these changes as a lifestyle. It is recommended to have two to three servings of fresh fruits and around two servings of non-starchy green vegetables. She feels that unprocessed and whole foods are more fulfilling and nutritious. It is better to consume these foods rather than consuming processed foods.
This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.[2]