Low-carb diet best for blood pressure cut

- Published: 27 January, 2010

Good news for meat lovers, US doctors are claiming the Atkins diet is better at cutting blood pressure than weight-loss pills.

Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed twice as many people on the meaty, low-carb diet lowered their blood pressure compared to those taking the drugs.

The study looked at 146 people who had a range of health problems.

The researchers from the Veterans Affairs Medical Centre and Duke University Medical Centre say nearly half (47%) of those in the low-carbohydrate group were able to reduce or cut out their blood pressure medication, compared with around one-fifth (21%) of those on orlistat plus a low-fat diet, the BBC reported.