How do low-carb diets affect cholesterol and triglycerides?
In general, low-carb diets tend to improve blood lipids. Specifically: Triglycerides Triglycerides are the form in which the body stores fat (our body fat is mainly made up of triglycerides.) When we talk about someone’s triglyceride level, however, we usually mean the amount of triglycerides that show up in the blood when it is tested. A high triglyceride level is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Numerous studies find that low-carbohydrate diets cause high triglyceride levels to fall; in fact, the results are quite consistent and dramatic. Many physicians now recommend reducing carbohydrate as the first line of defence against high triglyceride levels, and this is often successful. High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL) — “Good Cholesterol” HDL cholesterol seems to protect against heart disease; it becomes a risk factor for heart disease if it’s low. Scientists think it carries excess cholesterol back to the liver, where is it broken down. There is also evidence that s
