According to Exprss, a new study from the University of Surrey in the UK reveals that reducing carbohydrate intake can offer similar metabolic benefits to intermittent fasting, without the need to restrict overall calorie consumption.
The research involved 12 overweight or obese volunteers who each followed three different diets for one day, separated by five days of normal eating. The diets included: a normal carbohydrate diet; a low-carb diet with the same total calories; and a low-carb diet combined with severe calorie restriction.
Results showed that both low-carb diets led to significant metabolic improvements, helping the body switch to burning fat for energy and improving its ability to handle fatty foods. Notably, triglyceride levels—a type of fat linked to heart disease—also decreased significantly, even without calorie restriction.
“We found that simply restricting carbohydrates without forcing the body into a severe calorie deficit can elicit similar metabolic benefits to short-term fasting,” said lead researcher Dr. Adam Collins, a lecturer in nutrition at the University of Surrey.
Dr. Collins suggests that instead of strict fasting, periodic reduction in carbohydrate intake could be a more accessible and sustainable approach for individuals to improve their metabolic health and manage their weight effectively.
Although participants reported feeling hungrier on the low-carb diets, there was no indication that they ate more in the following days. The research team suggests that the body may adapt to a low-carb diet over time, making it easier to maintain in the long run.
The study also highlights that restricting carbohydrates not only aids weight loss but also helps manage chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Intermittent fasting, which is currently a popular approach, typically involves normal eating for five days and severe calorie restriction for the remaining two days of the week. However, according to this new research, adjusting the nutritional composition, specifically reducing carbohydrates, can offer similar benefits without the need for strict fasting.
The findings have been published in the European Journal of Nutrition.
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