Meat-heavy low-carb diets can 'shorten lifespan'

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Middle-aged people who get roughly half their daily calories from carbohydrates live several years longer on average than those with low-carb diets, researchers reported Friday.

The findings, published in The Lancet, challenge a trend in Europe and North America toward so-called paleo diets that shun carbohydrates in favor of animal protein and fat.

Proponents of these "Stone Age" diets argue that the rapid shift 10,000 years ago – with the advent of agriculture – to grains, dairy and legumes has not allowed the human body enough time to adapt to these high-carb foods.

For the study, under 40 percent of energy intake from carbohydrates qualifies as a low-carb regimen, though many such diets reduce the share to 20 percent or less.

At the other extreme, a 70 percent or higher share of carbohydrates – such as pasta, rice, cakes, sugary drinks - can also reduce longevity, but by far less, the scientists found.

"Low-carb diets that replace carbohydrates with protein or fat are gaining widespread popularity as a health and weight loss strategy," said lead author Sara Seidelmann, a researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

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"However, our data suggest that animal-based low carbohydrate diets might be associated with shorter overall lifespan and should be discouraged."

Replacing meat with plant-based fats, such as avocados and nuts, and proteins, such as soy products and lentils, reduces the risk of mortality, Seidelmann and her team found.

But the optimal balance of food groups for longevity remains hotly debated.

Many studies have concluded that eating carbohydrates in moderation – 45 to 55 percent calories – is best, but others report improved short-term, cardio-metabolic health with high-protein, high-fat diets.

Source(s): AFP