| The Dr. Atkins low-carb diet thumps traditional | | | | identified by colored dots. Participants had their |
| diets in weight loss research. The study by | | | | choice of foods marked with the color of their |
| Ben-Gurion University of the Negev pitted the | | | | diet plan |
| low-carb diet against Mediterranean and low-fat | | | | The low-fat diet was designed to allow |
| diets. Low-carb was declared the winner in helping | | | | consumption of no more than 30% of calories |
| the most people lose the most weight. | | | | from fat. In addition it restricted the intake of |
| The research produced even bigger news. The | | | | calories and cholesterol. It controlled that intake by |
| low-card diet improved cholesterol levels more | | | | focusing the diet on low-fat grains, vegetables and |
| than the other diets. | | | | fruits. |
| The study lasted for two years, which was much | | | | With the Mediterranean style diet the food |
| longer than most diet studies. In addition, 85% of | | | | emphases was on poultry, fish, olive oil and nuts. |
| the 322 people who began the test stuck with | | | | The low-carb diet plan limited consumption of |
| the plan for the entire two years. | | | | carbohydrates, but set no limits for calories or |
| Most of the participants in the study were men | | | | fats. It was suggested that participants in that |
| and both men and women get roughly equal | | | | group choose from vegetarian sources of fat and |
| amounts of exercise. The average weight loss for | | | | protein. |
| people in the low-carb group was 10.3 pounds at | | | | Someone with total cholesterol of 200 and an |
| the end of the two year study. | | | | HDL of 50 would have a ratio of 4 to 1. The |
| The Mediterranean diet group come in a close | | | | American Heart Association recommends an |
| second as the average weight loss per person | | | | optimum ratio of 3.5 to 1. A low ratio reduces the |
| was 10 pounds. The low fat dieters finished in | | | | risk of hardening of the arteries. For those on the |
| third place with 6.5 pounds of average weight loss. | | | | low-carb diets the ratio declined by 20%, 16 for |
| The low-carb diet provided a big surprise for | | | | the Mediterranean diet and 12% for those on the |
| researchers when it was found that the diet also | | | | low fat diet. |
| provided an important reduction in the level of | | | | Research published last year shows a low-carb |
| cholesterol. That included an improvement in the | | | | diet wins again when it comes to blood pressure. |
| ratio of total cholesterol to HDL. HDL is considered | | | | It was found that overweight women on the |
| the "good" cholesterol. | | | | Atkins low-carb plan had slightly better blood |
| The diet study was done in a controlled | | | | pressure and cholesterol readings when compared |
| environment in Israel. The participants were | | | | with women on the Zone diet and Ornish diet. |
| employees of an isolated nuclear-research | | | | Yes, anyone who is serious about losing pounds, |
| company. There were few sources of food | | | | maintaining good cholesterol and controlling blood |
| nearby, so the study group took all of their meals | | | | pressure, can have high hopes with the Atkins |
| in the facility's cafeteria. To maintain control of the | | | | low-carb diet. |
| study appropriate foods for each diet were | | | | |