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Staying Healthy
Could a low-carb diet help your heart?
- By Kelly Bilodeau, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
Cutting carbohydrate intake might improve some risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but more research is needed.
When many people think of a low-carb diet, they picture plates piled high with red meat, bacon, and butter. Low-carb diets, so often rich in saturated fat, have long been viewed as unhealthy for your heart. But a study published online Sept. 28, 2021, by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a bit more saturated fat might be okay, if the dietary mix is otherwise healthy.
The researchers determined that a carefully constructed low-carbohydrate eating plan appeared to reduce some risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This is despite the fact that 21% of the daily calories came from saturated fat, more than double the recommended daily amount.
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About the Author

Kelly Bilodeau, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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