🔵 In 1977, the US Senate's Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs recommended increasing #carbohydrate intake to 55–60% of total caloric intake and reducing #fat consumption to 30–40% to improve #health and reduce #healthcare costs.

🔵 Despite being controversial and based on weak evidence, the recommendations led to the creation of the USDA food pyramid, with carbohydrates at its base, initiating a significant nutritional experiment.

🔵 However, since then, there has been a significant increase in #obesity, #diabetes, and #cardiovascular disease prevalence, contrary to the intended goals of the recommendations.

🔵 Physiologically, increased carbohydrate consumption leads to heightened #insulin response, promoting fat storage, and contributing to #inflammation, #InsulinResistance, #endothelial dysfunction, and #atherosclerosis.

🔵 Before these recommendations, diabetes was largely treated by reducing carbohydrate intake, but the ADA also endorsed increasing carbohydrate intake, which was paradoxical.

🔵 Clinical trials since 2003 have shown that reducing carbohydrates is superior to reducing fat in weight loss and glycemic control and improves insulin sensitivity, reduces visceral fat and triglycerides, and increases HDL-cholesterol.

🔵 A meta-analysis revealed that reducing carbohydrate load and glycemic index reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and maintaining a low glycemic index, high-protein diet post-weight loss helps sustain weight loss.

👉 The ADA has shifted from recommending high carbohydrate intake to advocating for individualized nutrition needs, recognizing the mistake of promoting carbohydrate intake above 40% of total caloric intake.

❌ However, many healthcare professionals continue to recommend high carbohydrate intake for patients with diabetes, potentially harming them rather than benefiting them.
#carbohydrate #fat #health #healthcare