There are plenty of different diets available for those looking to better manage their food intake. Some focus on carbohydrate intake, while others look to manage caloric intake. Another option is to focus on foods that are low on fat. But, one must wonder???which diet is best?

A recent study comparing a low-carb diet and a low-fat diet produced some interesting results. Over a period of two years, subjects were divided into one of two groups: either low-carb or low-fat. All subjects participating in this study also received intensive group counseling, which should not be discounted from the results. Previous studies that measured weight loss at the six month time point indicated that a low-carb diet produced better results than low-fat diet. The current study was, of course, for a longer period, but what was interesting about this study is that the weight loss between subjects in each group was, approximately, the same amount???seven percent (or 15 pounds).

However, you can’t jump to the conclusion that both diets are the ???same??? just because of these results. Interestingly, the HDL levels in the low-carb diet group were improved relative to the low-fat diet by about 12 percent. HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) is referred to as ???good cholesterol.??? Good cholesterol takes cholesterol from the tissues in the body and transports it to the liver where the liver gets rid of the cholesterol in the bile. According to the website at the Mayo Clinic, relatively small increases in levels of HDL cholesterol can reduce the frequency of heart attacks. The increase in HDL levels noted in the subjects in the low-carb diet have been likened to results one could get through administration of medicines that are designed to increase or improve the HDL levels in a person???s body. Improvement without medicine? That???s the best kind of ???pharmacology??????the kind that doesn???t require a pill!