According to studies, losing belly fat may be able to help improve circulation. Learn about the connection between weight loss and circulation.
In a 2012 study, researchers presented results suggesting that losing weight can help improve blood flow and circulation. The study, presented at an American Heart Association scientific meeting in San Diego, focuses on heart disease prevention. They found that if you’re overweight, losing extra pounds (especially belly fat) can improve blood vessel function.
Moreover, the results of this six-month study show that higher belly fat loss leads to better arterial expansion and health. They also found that low-carb diets led to a higher weight loss (10 pounds more) than low-fat diets. Belly fat, the fat that accumulates in the belly above the waist, particularly increases the risk of heart disease.
Study Findings
“After six months, those who were on the low-carb diet lost an average of 28.9 pounds versus 18.7 pounds among those on the low-fat diet,” says lead investigator Kerry J. Stewart, Ed.D. Stewart is a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of clinical and research exercise physiology at the Johns Hopkins Heart and Vascular Institute.
As part of the study, researchers examined 60 men and women with an average weight of 215 pounds. The participants were divided into two groups: one went on a low-carb diet and the other on a low-fat diet. Furthermore, both groups consumed a similar amount of calories per day and took part in moderate-intensity exercises.
“Our study demonstrated that the amount of improvement in the vessels was directly linked to how much central, or belly fat, the individuals lost, regardless of which diet they were on,” says Stewart. “This is important since there have been concerns that a low-carb diet, which means eating more fat, may have a harmful effect on cardiovascular health. These results showed no harmful effects from the low-carb diet.”
Low-carb vs. Low-fat
The low-carb diet had up to 30% of calories that came from carbs like pasta, bread, and certain fruits. In addition, 40% of calories were from fat consumed from dairy products, meat, and nuts. In contrast, the low-fat diet had 30% of calories from fat and 55% from carbs.
Results show that the participants in the low-carb diet lost weight at a faster pace on average. According to Stewart, eating more carbohydrates can slow down the rate of body fat loss during weight-loss diets.
The Outlook
While the study shows that low-carb diets will lead to faster weight loss, it also shows that losing weight will improve circulation overall. In other words, if you want to have healthier blood flow, then it’s time to start losing weight.
Moreover, you can give your heart health an extra boost by taking daily supplements like Circulation Boost. Its ingredients will effectively promote circulation, blood pressure health, and more.
Take Circulation Boost along with effective weight loss strategies to give your health the support it needs.