65% Fat and Cholesterol

[wannabethintoo]

Just got back from a visit with my doctor. We had a long discussion about fat and cholesterol. I really didn't have an answer for his concern about the amount of fat that I am eating on this diet. If you follow the 65% fat, 30% protein and 5% Carb rule then the majority of what you are eating in a day is fat. Since fat consumption is what affects cholesterol then won't atkin dieters have high cholesterol?

I was tested for cholesterol 2 weeks before starting the Atkins diet and my levels were perfect. I wanted my doctor to test again to see the effect but he refused because he said that they would most likely be high because of my diet.

I thought I heard that many people on this diet have lowered their cholesterol.

[FightingTheFight]

Since fat consumption is what affects cholesterol then won't atkin dieters have high cholesterol?

Eating foods with cholesterol is not the problem. Especially eating healthy foods. Your body creates cholesterol, whatever you don't eat, it makes and vice versa.

What Fats do cause cholesterol are bad fats. Such as Trans fats. They are called that because they have been transformed from their original state and have become damaged. Most foods that include trans fats are junk foods such as chips,candy,cookies, and fast foods.

I would suggest waiting a full 6 weeks before checking your lipids again. Then you can throw it in your Dr.'s face.

[wannabethintoo]

So fats from butter, meats, bacon, eggs are good fats and shouldn't affect cholesterol negatively?

[america57]

Hi Wannabethintoo,

Here is a exert from Atkins For Life - page 67

The Truth About Cholesterol

So let's deal with your inevitable question: Does eating a high-fat diet raise my blood cholesterol level and contribute to an inceased risk of heart disease? In most cases the answer is no, except in the presence of excess carbs and excess calories - the very way of eating that typifies the American diet. A perfect example is a Big Mac on a bun with fries washed down with a supersize cola. Studies following individuals for up to one year actually show that when fat is consumed in a controlled-carb setting, it actually lowers the risk of coronary/vascular disease.

You should get this book, read it and then have a conversation with your doctor.

[Doris M.]

Hi Wannabethintoo - I have had my lab results in the past week or so. In 3 months on Atkins WOE, my Chloesterol went from 302 to 226! My triglycerides went from 219 to 109! Trust me, this 'fatty' lifestyle will be GOOD for your bloodwork results! My Blood sugar went from 122 to 80.

Once you have been on the program at least 6 weeks, demand bloodwork! Then get your doctor to be more supportive.

[ttdriver]

Hi Wannabethintoo,

Here is a exert from Atkins For Life - page 67

The Truth About Cholesterol

So let's deal with your inevitable question: Does eating a high-fat diet raise my blood cholesterol level and contribute to an inceased risk of heart disease? In most cases the answer is no, except in the presence of excess carbs and excess calories - the very way of eating that typifies the American diet. A perfect example is a Big Mac on a bun with fries washed down with a supersize cola. Studies following individuals for up to one year actually show that when fat is consumed in a controlled-carb setting, it actually lowers the risk of coronary/vascular disease.

You should get this book, read it and then have a conversation with your doctor.

Amen!

Your doctor needs a good education on cholesterol.

Your body manufactures 80% of its own cholesterol in your liver. The remaining 20% is comprised of the cholesterol in your diet. If you restrict dietary cholesterol, your body simply makes more to compensate for it.

I eat alot of saturated fats and my cholesterol ratio is 1.12. Fat is the fuel your body can use when you're on Atkins. Fat (without the refined carbs) is very healthy for you.

I suggest you read the following links:

http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/cholesterol_myth_1.html

http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/cholesterol_myth_2.html

Betty

[wannabethintoo]

See. I knew you guys would have the answers. I'm going to read up on those links and get the book Atkins for Life. I'll be prepared next time I see my doctor in a month.

I'm also going to insist on getting blood work done when I see him.

Thanks a lot everyone.

[not2late]

Another book you might want to look at is Know your Fats by Mary P. Enig, PhD. She's a leading researcher on fats and their effects on your body. Very good book. In fact, if you might want your physician to read it too.

[wannabethintoo]

Another book you might want to look at is Know your Fats by Mary P. Enig, PhD. She's a leading researcher on fats and their effects on your body. Very good book. In fact, if you might want your physician to read it too.

That's a very good idea. He gets me to read a lot of books of his choice now I can get him to read one of mine.

I'll look it up. Thanks a lot.

[Momtofour]

I just wanted to let you know my doctors take on this. I asked him about Atkins when I wanted to lose weight and he said,"How do you think I got to my current weight?" He and 5 other doctor friends all did Atkins over 3 years ago. They all tested their blood periodically, and they all had dramatic improvements. They are all still eating this way. He totally supports this WOE. Good luck and the next appointment and demand the test.

SW250/CW229/GW150

[Isabeau]

There is a very interesting three part documentary being aired on CBC radio (Canadian public broadcasting). The first part aired last night. It's called 'The Heart of the Matter' and it's exploring heart disease and cholesterol.

" Heart disease was the biggest pandemic of the twentieth century and remains the number one killer in developed countries. Yet there is still no consensus about its cause. Cholesterol is the number one suspect, and cholesterol lowering diets and drugs, the treatments of choice. But there is growing dissent. Jill Eisen explores the history and politics surrounding our ideas about heart disease. Part one of a three part series. Part two continues on June 14."

The 'dissent' is that heart disease may be more related to sugar and high carb consumption. Fasinating topic, lots of great information and very well researched.

http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/

[wannabethintoo]

There is a very interesting three part documentary being aired on CBC radio (Canadian public broadcasting). The first part aired last night. It's called 'The Heart of the Matter' and it's exploring heart disease and cholesterol.

" Heart disease was the biggest pandemic of the twentieth century and remains the number one killer in developed countries. Yet there is still no consensus about its cause. Cholesterol is the number one suspect, and cholesterol lowering diets and drugs, the treatments of choice. But there is growing dissent. Jill Eisen explores the history and politics surrounding our ideas about heart disease. Part one of a three part series. Part two continues on June 14."

The 'dissent' is that heart disease may be more related to sugar and high carb consumption. Fasinating topic, lots of great information and very well researched.

http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/

Very interesting. I'll have to tune in for part two on the 14th.

[iwillbethin]

Suz - Looks like you got some good advise from everyone. Sorry your dr. is not being so supportive. PROVE HIM WRONG!!!

[G-Mom]

I think the reason why most docs feel this way is because the low carb/high fat diet has not been studied fully. They learned how cholesterol is treated by the body when ppl eat the food guide pyramid diet. The majority of docs just don't accept the fact that carbs combined with fats reacts drastically different in the body than very few carbs with fat.

Saturated fat and trans fats are bad in the presence of a lot of carbs, which is why Dr. A suggests cutting back a bit on saturated fat when we increase our carbs near the pre-M and LM phases.

[not2late]

I think the reason why most docs feel this way is because the low carb/high fat diet has not been studied fully. They learned how cholesterol is treated by the body when ppl eat the food guide pyramid diet. The majority of docs just don't accept the fact that carbs combined with fats reacts drastically different in the body than very few carbs with fat.

Saturated fat and trans fats are bad in the presence of a lot of carbs, which is why Dr. A suggests cutting back a bit on saturated fat when we increase our carbs near the pre-M and LM phases.

Actually, the fat/cholesterol thing began in the 1950s with a doctor named Ancel Keyes. Keyes authored a landmark study called the "Seven Countries" study. He studied data from 7 countries around the world and he demonstrated that there was a direct relationship between dietary fat intake and heart disease. Dr. Keyes study is also known as the Lipid Theory. The problem was, Dr. Keyes had the data of 21 countries available to him and if he had used the data from all 21, he would not have been able to demonstrate a direct relationship between dietary fat intake and heart disease. Most recently the Framingham Heart Study disproved the Lipid Theory because Framingham showed that the people with a higher fat intake had a lower risk of heart disease.

Shortly after, the Seven Countries study, another researcher demonstrated that saturated fat intake can cause coronary artery disease. The problem was the study used rabbits. Rabbits are obligate herbivores, so feeding rabbits saturated fats (animal fats) was alien to their bodies and their rabbit metabolism.

Sometime in the 1960s, there was a push by the government to promote corn oil (yup, the government had a deal with the corn growers). And the bogus Seven Countries Study and the bogus rabbit saturated fat study helped to promote "healthy" vegetable oils over "bad" animal oils and fats.

Oh, here's an interesting tidbit about that Food Pyramid. The nutritionists who formulated the pyramid in the early 90s originally had fruits and vegetables on the bottom, grains and meats in the middle. The higher ups in the government changed the pyramid so that the grains were at the bottom with 9-11 servings daily. http://www.wholelifetimes.com/2004/w..._lead2611.html

Where we, the USDA nutritionists, called for a base of 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day, it was replaced with a paltry 2-3 servings (changed to 5-7 servings a couple of years later because an anti-cancer campaign by another government agency, the National Cancer Institute, forced the USDA to adopt the higher standard). Our recommendation of 3-4 daily servings of whole-grain breads and cereals was changed to a whopping 6-11 servings forming the base of the Food Pyramid as a concession to the processed wheat and corn industries. Moreover, my nutritionist group had placed baked goods made with white flour — including crackers, sweets and other low-nutrient foods laden with sugars and fats — at the peak of the pyramid, recommending that they be eaten sparingly. To our alarm, in the “revised” Food Guide, they were now made part of the Pyramid’s base. And, in yet one more assault on dietary logic, changes were made to the wording of the dietary guidelines from “eat less” to “avoid too much,” giving a nod to the processed-food industry interests by not limiting highly profitable “fun foods” (junk foods by any other name) that might affect the bottom line of food companies.

It's the highly processed and refined "foods" that have bad health effects.