If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you likely know that avoiding carbohydrates is a popular method. However, a new study finds that following a high-carb diet can actually contribute to weight loss and can even improve insulin function. But this doesn’t mean you should fill up on bread.

For the study, researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a non-profit organization that supports following a vegan diet, recruited 75 overweight adults to take part in a 16-week trial. Of these participants, 38 were asked to follow a low-fat, plant-based diet that allowed for as many carbs and calories as each individual wanted. However, they had to avoid foods with added oils and animal products and could only consume 30 grams of fat or less per day. The other participants were told to continue following their current diets.

The results showed that the diet following the plant-based, high-carb diet shed considerable amounts of visceral fat (which accumulates around the belly) and also reduced body mass index, as well as insulin resistance. There were no notable changes in the control group. This study fits in well with other recent research that has pointed to low-carb diets contributing to a shorter lifespan.

The findings of this research were published in the journal Nutrients. The study’s lead author and the director of clinical research for PCRM, Dr. Hana Kahleova, notes that healthy carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can be the key to fueling the body in the healthiest way.