Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 1: Cutting down on pasta, potatoes or fats alone may not be the key to a healthy heart, according to a long-term US study that suggests the quality of food matters more than whether a diet is low in carbohydrates or fats.
The research, led by public health experts at Harvard University, tracked nearly 200,000 men and women over about 30 years. It found that both low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets can support heart health — but only when they are built around high-quality, nutritious foods.
The study concluded that diets heavy in processed foods, animal proteins or unhealthy fats — or those lacking sufficient vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats — may not offer cardiovascular benefits, even if they technically qualify as low-carb or low-fat.
“Focusing only on nutrient compositions but not food quality may not lead to health benefits,” said Harvard epidemiologist Zhiyuan Wu, who led the research.
Participants who consumed healthy, balanced diets with adequate macronutrients showed higher levels of “good” cholesterol and lower levels of harmful fats and inflammatory markers. They also had a significantly lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, the leading cause of heart attacks.
“These results suggest that healthy low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets may share common biological pathways that improve cardiovascular health,” Wu noted, adding that prioritising overall diet quality gives individuals flexibility to choose eating patterns that suit their preferences.
The findings were based on self-reported dietary data from health professionals, who may have greater health awareness and better access to care than the general population. However, researchers pointed out that the study’s follow-up period — totalling over 5.2 million person-years — strengthens the reliability of the results.
Commenting on the findings, cardiologist Harlan Krumholz of Yale University said the study helps shift focus away from the long-standing debate over low-carb versus low-fat diets.
The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, with experts emphasising that diets rich in plant-based foods, whole grains and healthy fats are consistently linked to better cardiovascular outcomes.
The findings add to growing evidence that reducing processed foods and increasing intake of whole, nutrient-dense foods may be more important than strictly counting calories, carbohydrates or fats.