On a recent homework assignment for an epidemiology course I am taking, points were deducted because I suggested that a low fat diet might contribute to the risk of diabetes.  My justification - when foods are made to be low in fat, simple carbohydrates (sugar) are added to make the food taste better.  My professor's rationale for deducting points was that research has shown that a high fat diet contributes to an increased risk for diabetes and therefore a low fat diet should be protective.  In an attempt to educate myself (and hopefully find a way to get my points back), I began researching this topic and thought I would share my findings (with you and my professor).  Thomas Halton, a recent PhD graduate from the Harvard School of Public Health published an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and was interviewed by the Washington Post regarding low carbohydrate versus low fat diets and diabetes.  Though most doctors and nutritionists recommend a low fat diet to prevent diabetes, Halton's findings showed that "the one diet that did seem to show a protective effect was a vegetable-based, low carb diet which consisted of higher amounts of vegetable fat and vegetable protein and lower amounts of carbohydrate." (1).   Though it can be very beneficial for people to eat a diet low in simple carbohydrates, most people do not know the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates. 

Simple carbohydrates are those foods that are digested quickly and quickly increase blood sugar.  Simple carbohydrates are usually highly processed foods like: sugar, white flour, white bread, white rice, sugar cereal.  Complex carbohydrates are those foods that digest more slowly and do not cause a rapid increase in blood sugar.  Complex carbohydrates include most vegetables and fruits.  So the take home message is to reduce the amount of simple carbohydrates that we consume, increase the amount of complex carbohydrate, and make sure we are getting a good source of protein and fat in our diet.

1)      Gardner, A (2008).  Low-Carb Diets Better than Low-Fat Diets at Preventing Diabetes.

The Washington Post. Retrieved November 11, 2008

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