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Dr. Atkins emphasized in his books that a high-carb diet can lead to high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and heart disease, among other things. My family are poster children for this.
A person doesn't have to be "fat" for this to happen. I'm not overweight by most standards, but I have high triglycerides and borderline cholesterol. How did this happen? I exercise regularly and always have. I rarely eat junk such as fries, potato chips, candy, cookies, etc. BUT- I do (or did) eat a lot of fruit and bread (whole grain), and my weakness is bran muffins (yes really) and Starbucks scones (mmm).
My mother was never overweight, never smoked, and kept active. She had high cholesterol and ended up with a series of strokes and a quadruple bypass in her 60's. She ate a so-called "healthy" diet with lots of fruit and whole grains, and little fat. She is "mad" that she did all that "right" things and still ended up with heart disease.
Likewise, my dad was never overweight, never smoked, and kept active. He has high cholesterol and was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He too is "mad" because he never ate a lot of fat and kept his weight under control. He says he thought only fat people got type 2 diabetes. His diet, however, contained lots of fruit and cereal, toast with jelly, pancakes and syrup, cookies, and ice cream for dessert every night.
True, I would like to lose my muffin-top belly, fit into my jeans, and look nice in a swimsuit for summer. But in the long run I really, really don't want to have heart disease or diabetes. Better looks is an immediate payoff for a longer term reward.
A person doesn't have to be "fat" for this to happen. I'm not overweight by most standards, but I have high triglycerides and borderline cholesterol. How did this happen? I exercise regularly and always have. I rarely eat junk such as fries, potato chips, candy, cookies, etc. BUT- I do (or did) eat a lot of fruit and bread (whole grain), and my weakness is bran muffins (yes really) and Starbucks scones (mmm).
My mother was never overweight, never smoked, and kept active. She had high cholesterol and ended up with a series of strokes and a quadruple bypass in her 60's. She ate a so-called "healthy" diet with lots of fruit and whole grains, and little fat. She is "mad" that she did all that "right" things and still ended up with heart disease.
Likewise, my dad was never overweight, never smoked, and kept active. He has high cholesterol and was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He too is "mad" because he never ate a lot of fat and kept his weight under control. He says he thought only fat people got type 2 diabetes. His diet, however, contained lots of fruit and cereal, toast with jelly, pancakes and syrup, cookies, and ice cream for dessert every night.
True, I would like to lose my muffin-top belly, fit into my jeans, and look nice in a swimsuit for summer. But in the long run I really, really don't want to have heart disease or diabetes. Better looks is an immediate payoff for a longer term reward.
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