The result of one of the largest and most thorough diet studies has been released with results contrary to what many leading critics had predicted. The experiment compared a low carb diet , a Mediterranean diet and a conventional low fat diet.

The study results were released last week and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study was partly financed by the Atkins foundation but they played no role in the planning or strategic carrying out of it. The study’s lead person responsible was Iris Shai, University of Negev.

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The study was carried out in an isolated nuclear research facility in Israel and controlled the diet of 320 people over two years. The subjects were assigned to a specific diet and ate it in the company cafeteria every day. These subjects were consistently monitored for weight loss and cholesterol level. The three diets were very regulated and consisted of a Low fat diet which included about a 30% fat content, a Mediterranean style diet and a low carb Atkins style diet .

The most significant results were noted during the first 5 months of the study with weight loss being recorded for nearly all participants. The low fat and Mediterranean participants lost in the region of 4 and half kilograms while the Atkins participators lost in the region of 6 and half kilograms. Although the weight loss results were not astounding researchers say significant reduction of bad cholesterol was achieved and other health characteristics were generally improved.

Slight differences in results were also noted in the study with men generally producing better results on low carb diets while women generally lost more weight on the Mediterranean diet. In some cases these differences were significant with as much as 4 and half-kilogram weight loss difference for women between the Mediterranean and low carb participants.

Detractors of the Atkins diet have long stated their views that over an extended period of time the low carb diet can be detrimental to health and raise bad cholesterol levels. They believed this to be true because the Atkins diet allows for a far larger amount of fat to be consumed by people who choose to undertake this diet.  

Contrary to their belief the low carb approach actually reported the highest reduction in several bad cholesterol levels and improvement in other aspects of healthy bodily functions. Although it is agreed that the study should not be deemed as a defining principle due to differences in body and climate conditions it does shed more light on an ambiguous area that has been shrouded in hearsay and unverified claims for a long time.

If interested in the Mediterranean diet we would recommend these Mediterranean Diet Recipes . 

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