What happens to your body when you eat fewer carbs?
Low carbohydrate diet and effects on weight, lipids and blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Low-carb diets improved HDL and triglycerides without worsening LDL cholesterol.
Many experts have worried that high-fat, low-carb diets would raise LDL cholesterol, increasing heart disease risk. This study found no significant effect on LDL.
Practical Takeaways
If you're trying to lower blood pressure or improve triglycerides, a low-carb diet might help — but don’t expect dramatic or lasting weight loss.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Low-carb diets improved HDL and triglycerides without worsening LDL cholesterol.
Many experts have worried that high-fat, low-carb diets would raise LDL cholesterol, increasing heart disease risk. This study found no significant effect on LDL.
Practical Takeaways
If you're trying to lower blood pressure or improve triglycerides, a low-carb diet might help — but don’t expect dramatic or lasting weight loss.
Publication
Journal
European Heart Journal
Year
2025
Authors
H. Hagstrom, O. Gastgivars, L. Hagfors, K. Lindmark, M. Brunstrom
Related Content
Claims (5)
Eating fewer carbs might help lower your blood pressure if you have high blood pressure.
Eating fewer carbs might help lower blood pressure a little bit over time, especially in people who are overweight.
Low-carb diets help people with obesity lose a little weight at first, but the benefits fade after a year, so they might not work well for keeping weight off long-term.
Eating fewer carbs might help boost good cholesterol and lower blood fats in people with higher body weight, but it doesn’t seem to change overall or bad cholesterol much.
If you're an adult with obesity and you eat fewer carbs on a low-carb diet, you might lose more weight and see better cholesterol numbers in just a few months.