By now you’ve probably seen the latest research from Harvard University and National University of Singapore showing that different types of low-carbohydrate diets have different effects on health.

In this large study of nearly 130,000 people (all health professionals), a low-carb diet that was rich in animal foods was associated with increased risk of mortality. In contrast, a low-carb diet that was higher in plant foods reduced all-cause mortality risk, especially from cardiovascular disease.

Most vegan advocates spun the story to highlight the fact that eating low-carb diets loaded with animal protein is detrimental to health. I agree that this is an important aspect of the study results. But in writing about it for the Vegan Examiner, I took a somewhat different approach. That is, eating a low-carb diet that is higher in protein and fat is not necessarily a bad thing as long as the protein and fat come from plant foods.