Study: Atkins-style diet linked to women’s heart disease

Women following the popular low-carb Atkins diet may want to rethink that extra slice of bacon.

A new study by Greek researchers published in the British Medical Journal shows that women who regularly eat a high-protein diet may be raising their risk for heart disease by 28 percent.

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The diets of more than 43,000 Swedish women were assessed over 15 years for the study. Of those, 1,270 suffered a "cardiovascular event" at some point, according to The Independent.

The incidence of heart disease was 62 percent higher among women who consumed the least carbohydrates and the most protein, when compared to women who were eating a more typical diet, CNN reported.

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Even regularly eating 20 fewer grams of carbohydrates and 5 more grams of protein each day increased participants' heart disease risk by 5 percent.

The results weren't surprising to several nutrition and exercise experts, who stressed the need for whole grains as part of a balanced diet and discouraged extreme eating plans of any kind.

"This study raises concerns about the long-term effects on cardiovascular health of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets — particularly if there is not careful consideration given to whether plant versus animal proteins are consumed," Dr. Gregg Fonarow, chairman of cardiovascular medicine and science at the University of California, Los Angeles, told US News & World Report.

Colette Heimowitz, vice president of nutrition and education for Atkins Nutritionals, told The Independent the study was "misleading."