Chances are you don't really need another reason to drink your protein shake. But with all of the buzz about carbohydrates and cardiovascular health, you may just smile the next time you do.
This month's Scientific American rounds up some of the most convincing new research implicating refined carbohydrates. In some of these studies, subjects eating the most refined carbs had more heart and vascular disease.
Suprisingly for some, restricting refined carbohydrate intake produced better results than restricting dietary fat. For example, the article discusses one study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found subjects on a low carb diet, unrestricted in fat, lost twice as much weight and ended up with a better HDL/LDL (good/bad) cholesterol ratio than those of the low fat diet.
The article explains these effects could result from the fluctuations in blood sugar that refined carbs can cause. When blood sugar levels rise quickly and then plummet, this can trigger fat production and inflammation.
A recent New York Times article also reported the link between refined carbs and cholesterol, citing an April 2010 JAMA study which found a statistically significant increases in LDL in women consuming more refined carbs in the form of sugar.
Now, it is important to be clear these studies are looking at refined carbs, not complex carbs like those from whole wheat and vegetables. For a good overview of the difference, and how your body metabolizes them, and a list of examples, check out this page from The Franklin Institute.
As for your protein shake, the evidence for the cardiovascular health benefits of whey protein is impressive. In fact, scientists are now exploring the role of specific whey protein bioactive peptides in applications such as immune and cardiovascular health.
Add that to what we know about the benefits of adding Aminogen to your whey protein- and you've got one more reason to feel good about your protein.
