| The debate between low fat diet plan and low carb | | | | However, when it came to mood, at first the mood |
| diets continues. And while both plans, when followed | | | | measures in both groups improved, which is no |
| faithfully, can have you losing weight, a recent study | | | | surprise since the researchers expected mood to get |
| out of Australia should help you make the choice | | | | better as the subjects saw the pounds drop off. |
| between the two when it comes to how you'll feel | | | | After all, we all know how seeing results is a huge |
| while following these eating plans. | | | | boost. |
| The work, appearing in the Archives of Internal | | | | But the improved mood didn't last for those on the |
| Medicine, finds a short-term improvement in mood | | | | low carb diet. By the end of the study, their mood |
| for those following both diet plans, but mood | | | | was right where it had been before the diet started. |
| improvements didn't linger for low carb dieters. Score | | | | The mood improvements did last for the dieters |
| one for low fat diets! | | | | following the low fat diet. |
| The research involved 106 overweight or obese | | | | And though it's not clear why the mood benefits |
| Australian adults of an average age of 50 years old. | | | | dropped off for those in the low carb group, the |
| Randomly divided into two groups, one group was | | | | researchers believe that the low carb diet plan might |
| assigned a low fat diet plan they would follow for | | | | be too hard, and too different from how the |
| one year, while the other group was told to follow a | | | | subjects were used to eating. Over time, eating this |
| low carb diet during the same period of time. Here's a | | | | way is likely to become a burden... a lot of work and |
| breakdown of the two diet plans, both with the | | | | sacrifice that can be hard to maintain. |
| same daily calorie budget used in the study: | | | | "Although, in the short term, participants may have |
| - Low-fat diet: 46% of calories from carbs, 24% of | | | | been able to meet the challenges presented by this |
| calories from protein and 30% of calories from fat | | | | dietary pattern, over the longer term, it may have |
| (less than 8% from saturated fat). | | | | increased participant isolation, leading to the negative |
| - Low-carb diet: 4% of calories from carbs, 35% of | | | | impact on mood state that may provide a possible |
| calories from protein and 61% of calories from fat. | | | | explanation for the effects that were observed," |
| Mood was measured during the study by evaluating | | | | explains Grant Brinkworth, PhD of the |
| subjects' total mood disturbance, anger-hostility, | | | | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research |
| confusion-bewilderment and depression-dejection as | | | | Organization located in Adelaide, Australia. |
| well as cognitive functioning. | | | | So, if you have a few (or more than a few) pounds |
| Subjects on both diet plans also met regularly with a | | | | to lose, and you're trying to decide on either a low |
| dietitian during the study. At the end of the year, | | | | fat diet plan or low carb plan, these findings suggest |
| both diet groups had lost the same amount of | | | | low fat diets might be a better choice when it comes |
| weight - almost 30 pounds. A nice, solid weight loss. | | | | lo dropping those pounds and keeping your spirits up. |