Can A Low Carb Diet Lower Cholesterol?

Low-carb diets limit the number of carbohydrates you take in daily such as those found in breads, grains, rice, starchy vegetables and pasta. Since weight is a factor in your cholesterol, any diet that helps you shed pounds can help you improve your total cholesterol levels. The high-fat content in some low-carbohydrate diets, however, can elevate some of the unhealthy blood fat in your body.

Cholesterol Types

There are different types of cholesterol readings: low density lipoprotein, otherwise known as LDL or bad cholesterol; high density lipoprotein, otherwise known as HDL or good cholesterol; and triglycerides. Too much LDL can cause plaque to build up in the arteries, clogging them and possibly leading to arteriosclerosis. High levels of HDL help protect the heart against heart attacks and stroke. If you have high LDL and low HDL you may also have high triglycerides that are not good for your heart. Lowering LDL levels can be achieved by following a balanced diet and including some specifics like niacin, plant sterols and omega-3 fish oil in your diet. While HDL is primarily governed by genetics, you can increase it by avoiding saturated fat, drinking alcohol in moderation and exercising regularly.

Weight Loss

A low-carbohydrate diet can help you lose weight. This can help you improve your healthy HDL cholesterol and lower your triglyceride levels. But low-carbohydrate diets include a lot of protein and don't restrict fats. A cholesterol-lowering diet includes no more than 20 g of saturated fat. Saturated fat, found in all animal products, can raise your LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. If you follow a low-carbohydrate diet, choose lean sources of meat. And if you use cooking oil, choose olive oil or vegetable oil rather than butter, margarine or shortening.

Raise Cholesterol

A low-carbohydrate diet may elevate your unhealthy LDL cholesterol, according to a study led by Dr. Teri L. Hernandez, a researcher at the University of Colorado at Denver. Participants -- 32 obese adults -- followed either a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet or a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Everyone on the study lost similar amounts of weight -- slightly more than 13 lbs. in six weeks. Only persons whose diets include large amounts of fat experienced elevated LDL cholesterol, according to a report published in the January 2010 edition of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."

Help and Harm

Another study also suggests that following a low-carbohydrate diet could both help and harm cholesterol levels. Gary Foster, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Health System, led a two-year study among 307 obese adults. One group followed a low-carbohydrate diet and the other a low-calorie diet. Both groups lost weight. The low-carb dieters experienced a greater drop in triglycerides and blood pressure. The low-calorie dieters, on the other hand, realized dramatic improvements in their healthy HDL levels. The increase amounted to 23 percent over two years, according to the report published in August 2010 in the "Annals of Medicine."