No carbohydrates, but lots of proteins and fat - that's what the currently very popular diet looks likeLow carb dietout of. Although many stars swear by this diet, scientists at the University of Sydney claim that carbohydrate-rich foods are not as bad as people think. They prove this based on a study carried out on animals.
Foods rich in carbohydrates vs. foods without carbohydrates
In the experiment, the scientists put together 25 different diet plans for the test animals. The differences between these plans were the amount of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The result made it clear that eating a lot of carbohydrates causes the hormone FGF21 to be released in particularly high quantities. A lot of carbohydrates led to the same result, both in over- and under-fed animals.
What does FGF21 do?
FGF21 (Fibrolast Growth Factor 21) is produced in the liver andcurbs appetite, balances the metabolism and strengthens the immune system at the same time. The hormone is said to reduce the desire for sweets and alcohol in particular. This was tested by a team of American researchers led by Dr. Matthew J. Potthoff on mice. This showed that mice that received the hormone suddenly no longer had an appetite for sugar water or alcohol solution.
So as it turns out, there arelow-carbohydrate foodsnot exactly beneficial when it comes to losing weight. Potatoes, pasta, bread and rice could actually help, quite the opposite, considering that carbohydrate-rich foods stimulate the production of the appetite suppressant FGF21.
Low Carb: Eating with few carbohydrates is controversial
In general, the low-carb diet, in which carbohydrate-rich foods are avoided and instead carbohydrate-free foods with a lot of protein and fat are eaten, is not very popular with scientists. This is partly due to the large amount of fats that you consume with this type of diet. Excess amounts are deposited on the vessel walls, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Furthermore, this drastic avoidance of carbohydrates is not suitable for every organism, because the human body has had a strong need for carbohydrate-rich foods since the Stone Age.
You can find out more about FGF21, including the two studies mentionedCell Metabolism.
