Private MD News

High-carb, omega-3 rich diets improve cholesterol scores

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Individuals who have received a high cholesterol test and have been advised to make lifestyle changes may want to consider adding more omega-3 fatty acids to their diet, as a new study has found that these nutrients may help them improve their heart health.

Researchers from the University of Cordoba in Spain placed study participants who had all tested positive for metabolic syndrome - a collection of conditions including high cholesterol, obesity, poor blood sugar levels and high fat levels - into four separate groups. Each was given a different diet to follow.

They found that participants who followed a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet that included plenty of omega-3s had the best outcomes.

"When you add omega-3 to a high carbohydrate, low-fat diet, you can prevent the long-term adverse effect that a high-carbohydrate diet induces on [blood fats]," study author Jose Lopez-Miranda told HealthDay News.

He added that lowering blood fats may help individuals improve their cholesterol tests scores, as well as a range of other measures of heart health. Participants in the high-carb and omega-3 group were able to significantly improve their cholesterol compared to those who were assigned different diets.