Atkins Diet and Cholesterol: Facts and myths
* First my apologies that Pinnacle Studios screwed up the audio – video sync at the end (7:40). I tried redoing the video three times, but the same out of sync happened each time.*
In this video, I deal with another one of the myths that Atkins Diet increases one’s cholesterol level due to its saturated fats. This misconception has been proven false over and over in many different studies. At very least, here is my anecdotal evidence.
My Cholesterol (Starting to Now)
Total Cholesterol – 198 to 153
LDL Cholesterol – 148 to 95
HDL Cholesterol – 35 to 58
Triglycerides – 135 to 43
What’s Good and Bad?
http://cholesterol.emedtv.com/hdl/hdl-ldl-ratio.html
“It is the ratio between the level of HDL-”good” cholesterol and total cholesterol that we need to be concerned about. Therefore, in adults, the HDL-”good” cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio should be higher than 0.24 (just divide your HDL level by your cholesterol).
Generally speaking, the higher the ratio, the better (the lower your risk of a heart attack).”
Mine – .61
This popular medical belief ignores however that all LDL molecules are not necessarily created equal.
“It appears common for people with high triglycerides to have low HDL’s, and these same people also tend to have high levels of clotting factors in their blood stream, which is unhealthy in protecting against heart disease.
Therefore, in adults, the triglyceride/HDL-”good” cholesterol ratio should be below 2 (just divide your triglycerides level by your HDL). Or more precisely, the triglyceride/HDL ratio:
2 or less is considered ideal
4 – high
6 – much too high”
Mine – .74
It is now believed that the triglycerides/HDL ratio is one of the most potent predictors of heart disease.
A Harvard-lead study author reported:
“High triglycerides alone increased the risk of heart attack nearly three-fold. And people with the highest ratio of triglycerides to HDL — the “good” cholesterol — had 16 times the risk of heart attack as those with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL in the study of 340 heart attack patients and 340 of their healthy, same age counterparts.
The ratio of triglycerides to HDL was the strongest predictor of a heart attack, even more accurate than the LDL/HDL ratio. (Circulation 1997;96:2520-2525).”
Other Studies, which prove to healthy nature of Atkins or Low Carb in respect to heart health:
* Weight Loss with a Low-Carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or Low-Fat Diet
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12106620
“The low-carbohydrate group consumed the smallest amount of carbohydrates and the largest amounts of fat, protein. … The mean weight loss was 2.9 kg for the low-fat group, and 4.7 kg for the low-carbohydrate group. … The relative reduction in the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 20% in the low-carbohydrate group and 12% in the low-fat group”
* Effect of 6-month adherence to a very low carbohydrate diet program.
Am J Med. 2002 Jul;113(1):30-6.
“Serum total cholesterol level decreased 11 +/- 26 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased 10 +/- 25 mg/dL, triglyceride level decreased 56 +/- 45 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level increased 10 +/- 8 mg/dL, and the cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio decreased 0.9 +/- 0.6 units.”
* Comparison of high-fat and high-protein diets with a high-carbohydrate diet in insulin-resistant obese women.
Diabetologia, 2005 (Vol. 48) (No. 1) 8-16
These observations suggest that the popular diets reduced insulin resistance to a greater extent than the standard dietary advice did. When compared with the HC diet, the HF and HP diets were shown to produce significantly greater reductions in several parameters, including weight loss, waist circumference and triglycerides. LDL cholesterol decreased in individuals on the HC and HP diets.Of those on the HF diet, 25% showed a more than 10% increase in LDL cholesterol, whereas this occurred in only 13% of subjects on the HC diet and 3% of those on the HP diet.
Duration : 0:9:17
Atkins Weight Loss Program – Video Testimonial – Lauren – Week 1
Lauren describes her first week on the Atkins Diet program.
Duration : 0:2:40
Atkins Weight Loss Program – Video Testimonial – Michael- Week 3
Michael describes his third week on the Atkins Diet program.
Duration : 0:3:10
Atkins Diet Recipes: Low carb Cauliflower Bisque
Low Carb Cauliflower Bisque:
1 small onion, diced
2 stalks celery, finely sliced
1 TBS butter
1 Medium cauliflower, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup cream
Salt and pepper
Courtesy of Linda’s Low Carb (http://genaw.com/lowcarb/cauliflower_bisque.html):
In a large frying pan, saute the onion and celery until translucent and tender. Salt and pepper to taste. Add cauliflower and the broth; bring to boil. Change heat to medium-low for 20-25 minutes. Add Cream. Use a stick blender or blender to liquify the soup until completely smooth and thick. Add salt and pepper, if needed. Optional toppings: Cheddar cheese or real bacon bits.
Makes about 8 servings.
Nutrition Info: 102 Calories, 6g Fat, 5.8g Carbs, 2g Fiber, 6g Protein
Duration : 0:6:45
December Sweet Free Challenge and Menu Blog
I have joined the December Sweets Free Challenge by Jimmy Moore. I am doing it mainly to address my Diet Coke with Splenda habit, so for the month of December, I am stopping all the Splenda or artificial sweetener intake. Fruits like strawberries are fine, but not if they are sweetened.
Where am I posting my menus?
http://www.network-admin.net/menus
I should be posting my menu there each day and demonstrate what an Atkineer really eats. I hope this helps demonstrate the variety of the low carb diet.
Finally here are two more ways to follow my progress:
http://twitter.com/bowulf
http://www.thedailyplate.com/diary/who/bowulf
Join me for healthy December!
Duration : 0:3:11
30 Pounds in 6 Weeks with One Week Diet System
Megan C. from Los Angeles, California, lost 30 pounds in 6 weeks.
“I weighed 160, and then six weeks later I am at 130… this diet seemed to take it back to where your body was supposed to be naturally.”
———————————-
The One Week® Diet System is a whole new approach to weight loss. The system consists of a unique all-natural liquid digestive cleanse that doubles as a meal replacement for breakfast or lunch. Together with moderate exercise and a sensible diet, it produces real results after just one week.
This easy-to-follow one week program makes it possible to reduce calorie consumption while keeping your energy level high throughout the day. The result is a dramatic loss of weight and inches after only one week.
The One Week liquid digestive cleanse consists of an advanced synergistic blend of the purest, most effective herbs, teas, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts necessary for overall good health and vitality. By fortifying the liver and other eliminative organs it assists your body in its natural cleansing functions and results in predictable, rapid weight loss.
Unlike most weight loss products that lack nutritional integrity and use various gimmicks to suppress appetite, confuse your body’s normal metabolic functions and inevitably add to your internal toxic load, the One Week Diet System is nutritionally complete and has been validated by a University Clinical study. The results indicate a consistent and dramatic loss of pounds and inches in the very first week. But even more impressive were the blood tests indicating across the boards significant improvements in cholesterol, body fat, glucose and triglycerides – the key health indicators that doctors routinely monitor.
Visit http://www.nuleanforlife.com and start cleansing the fat away today!
Duration : 0:2:43
Atkins Recipes: Mock Danish
I performed my first low carb cooking demonstration and showed the world the wonders of the mock danish. Mock danishes were one of the new comfort foods that I learned how to cook and was used to kill cravings that threatened the diet early on. Some qualifications for Kent’s comfort foods were it had to be both easy and quick to make, and it could not have a lot of ingredients to prep. Most of the recipes, I will be demonstrating have my seal of approval for taste and ease in preparation. 
Here is the Mock Danish recipe:
2 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1 egg
1.5 – 2 tsp Splenda (**count against artificial sweetener count for the day)
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 TBS Ground Flax meal (optional)
Topping
1 TBS Butter
.5 tsp Splenda
Dash Cinnamon
Duration : 0:7:10
Diet and Food plans to help you lose weight – FitnessManswers
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Category: People & Blogs
Tags:
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Duration : 0:5:20
Atkins Diet Recipes: Fauxtatoes
My second cooking show on how to make low carb comfort foods. Fauxtatoes are a great dish to have at Thanksgiving or for those who typically have to fight to get their veggies. A couple of my kids and my wife even make cameo appearances in this video. It’s the least I can do for all the taste testing I make them endure as I try new recipes. My non-low-carbing family members even like this recipe as an alternative to starchy mashed potatoes.
Try this recipe; I think it’ll be a hit with you as well!
Recipe:
1 Head Cauliflower
2.5 TBS Butter
1/3 cup Heavy Cream
1 Chicken Bouillon cube
1 tsp salt
White pepper to taste
Directions:
* Cook Cauliflower until fork tender. Drain well.
* Place cooked cauliflower and other ingredients (crush bouillon cube first) into the food processor. Run on high until consistency of mashed potatoes. You may need to scrape the sides of the bowl a couple times to prevent lumps.
Makes 6 Servings:
Total Fat 1.04g2%
Saturated Fat 0.63g3%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.26g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.22g
Cholesterol 3.06mg1%
Sodium 287.66mg12%
Potassium 426.82mg12%
Total Carbohydrate 7.64g3%
Dietary Fiber 3.5g14%
Sugars 3.53g
Protein 2.77g6%
Duration : 0:7:39
Atkins Diet Quick Hits: Induction is not only 20g or less
In the fourth video of the “Atkins Diet Quick Hits” series, I deal with a question I get from new people asking about a certain lower carb food or frankenfood and if it is ok due to its low carb. It is often not on the Acceptable Foods List or filled with ingredients not on the list. This is when I get into the discussion why the first phase of the diet is more than just reduce your carbs to less than 20g per day.
Here are the main goals of any Induction phase:
1.) Get into ketosis and see its benefits
2.) Get used to the food selection
3.) Control one’s eating habits and prove that control to yourself
4.) Set stage for future weight loss and ability to detect future problem foods when you readd them later
Not following the Induction rules and the Acceptable Foods List erodes the guarantee of your success.
Atkins Induction Rules:
http://www.atkins.com/articles/atkins-phases/phase-one/the-rules-of-induction
Atkins Induction Acceptable Foods List:
http://www.atkins.com/articles/atkins-phases/phase-one/acceptable-foods
You can also watch my Induction videos to see my take on Induction Phase.
Duration : 0:2:6