Low-carb diets may help to lower blood pressure

If you are looking to shed some pounds AND lower your blood pressure you might want to try a low-carbohydrate diet, according to a new study appearing in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study found that twice as many people on a low-carb diet lowered their blood pressure than those who were taking the diet drug orlistat (the active ingredient in over-the-counter Alli and the prescription drug Roche's Xenical.) Both approaches were equally effective at improving cholesterol and glucose levels, as well as reducing waist size and weight, the researchers from Duke University and the Veterans Administration reported. (See also: BBC News report)