Over the years there has been considerable controversy over "low-carb" diets. Though not a low-carb diet, the SCD is definitely lower in complex carbohydrates compared to the standard western diet.

Anecdotally, regular SCD (specific carbohydrate diet) users report healthy cholesterol levels due to dietary changes--even though this goes against the grain (bad pun) of conventional wisdom. Now mainstream science is beginning to back up these claims.

This month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition included an article titled "Protein in optimal health: heart disease and type 2 diabetes".

The article points out many positives from lower carb, higher protein diets--especially in relation to diabetes and heart disease:

Derived from these outcomes, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are also being examined for treatment of heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.

High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets have been found to have positive effects on reducing risk factors for heart disease, including reducing serum triacylglycerol, increasing HDL cholesterol, increasing LDL particle size, and reducing blood pressure. These diets appear particularly attractive for use with individuals exhibiting the atherogenic dyslipidemia of metabolic syndrome. High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets have also been investigated for treatment of type 2 diabetes with positive effects on glycemic regulation, including reducing fasting blood glucose, postprandial glucose and insulin responses, and the percentage of glycated hemoglobin.

This is very good news:) Bringing these diets into mainstream medicine leads to research, better knowledge, and healthier people.