Americans are experiencing a shocking epidemic of health problems from insulin resistance and the Metabolic Syndrome that it leads to. It’s even more shocking that many mainstream doctors are still recommending diets that are making these conditions even worse!

Here’s why. A number of studies over the last few years have shown that lower carb diets are superior for control of insulin resistance and its related conditions like Metabolic Syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and high-risk cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Low-carb diets that are higher in protein and healthy fats have been shown to drastically improve the components of Metabolic Syndrome while promoting weight loss.^1-5

And…they have been shown to help maintain a better metabolic rate than conventional low calorie diets.⁷

Yet conventional medical circles still won’t recommend lower carb diets, favoring instead, low calorie, low-fat diets. This is despite the fact that studies show that conventional diets containing 50-60% of calories as carbs, not only make Metabolic Syndrome worse,⁷ they lower resting energy expenditure, slowing the metabolism even further.⁷ (This is especially true for diets containing carbs that are high on the glycemic index)⁸. As resting energy expenditure is lowered, it becomes harder and harder to maintain long term weight loss and control Metabolic Syndrome.

The bottom line is that conventional diets are not effective and may be setting people up for long term failure when it comes to controlling weight and insulin resistance. Low-carb higher protein diets on the other hand are effective for maintaining weight loss and controlling Metabolic Syndrome. They have even been shown to be effective in people who have progressed to type 2 diabetes.

While many mainstream practitioners are still stubbornly adhering to a low-fat, higher carb diet, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. In one published study, the authors concluded that recommending traditional diets such as the American Heart Association Diet is in error for Metabolic Syndrome.⁶ And in another, the authors recommend focusing on reducing high glycemic foods rather than on restricting fat as a means to improving metabolic and cardiovascular health.⁹

At the LaValle Metabolic Institute, we have been recommending a 25 to 30% carbohydrate diet for years, based on some of the early research and the positive results we see in practice. If you have insulin resistance or any signs of it, you should make this dietary change as fast as you can to lower your cardio-metabolic risk!

References

1. Guiterrez, et al. JACN 1998;17(6) 595-600.
2. McAuley, et al. Diabetologia (2005) 48:8-16
3. JAMA. 2007;297:921.
4. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87;114-25
5. Luscombe-Marsh, et al. AJCN 81(4);762-772 Apr. 2005
6. Volek J, Feinman R. Nutr and Metab 2005,2:31
7. Pereira, MA, et al. JAMA 292:2482-2490
8. Arch Int Med, July 24, 2006
9. Hu F. Health Editorial J A Coll Cardiol 2007;50:22-24.

[Ed. Note: Laura B. LaValle, RD, LD is presently the director of dietetics nutrition at LaValle Metabolic Institute (formerly part of Living Longer Institute). She offers personal nutritional counseling at LMI for clients who need help with their diet in relation to illness or disease. Laura also provides educational services in the areas of health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention. click here.]

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