The temptation of salty and sweet foods is indeed difficult to avoid. Especially if we talk about fast foods that are famous for their savoury taste and can arouse your appetite. However, did you know that these types of foods have a very high content of calories? As we all know, high calorie intake can increase the risk of various diseases, including heart disease.
If we are talking about high calorie intake, we will usually associate it with an obese person. Obese people are usually advised to pay attention to their calorie intake to prevent health risks. However, the same impact can also be felt by those who have normal body weight. The results of a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that limiting daily calorie intake can improve cardiometabolic health in slimmer people.
In their study, the researchers found that besides being able to help maintain and lose weight, limiting daily calorie intake can also help maintain bad cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Calorie restriction is also known to help reduce the risk of inflammation associated with heart disease, cancer, and decreased cognitive function. Sensitivity to insulin also increases with limited calorie intake.
To obtain these results, the researchers analyzed 218 participants with an average BMI of 22-27.9. Participants were divided into two groups, where the first group was asked to reduce their daily intake by 25%, while the rest continued to eat the diet they could run. Every day, for three meals, participants in the first group are free to choose a food menu from 6 choices. This study took place from May 2007 to February 2010.
Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay
Source(s):
- Kraus, W.E., Bhapkar, M., Huffman, K.M., et all (2019). 2 years of calorie restriction and cardiometabolic risk (CALARIE): exploratory outcomes of multicentre, phase 2, randomized controlled trial. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(19)30151-2.
- Medical News Today - Why slim people may benefit from calorie restriction (2019). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325745.php, 22 July 2019.