Low Carb Diets and
Cholesterol
by Tanya Zilberter,
PhD
Low Carb Diets and Cholesterol Numbers
I know the cholesterol matter can be confusing and
worrisome to low-carb
dieters and their doctors.
To begin with, here are some guidelines and
definitions:
- LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is "bad"
cholesterol. LPL levels should be below 160.
- HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is "good "
cholesterol. HDL levels should be above 45.
The best advice I can give you is to consult your
family doctor. Be sure to tell him or her that you are on high-fat,
low-carbohydrate diet and not on a high-fat only diet.
It is well known that consuming foods that are
high in fat can seriously impair our blood biochemistry. When this
conclusion is automatically transferred to a low-carb dieting, it's a
misconception. Clinical data shows that the high-fat, high-carb diets not
high-fat, low-carb diets made blood tests numbers worse.
A few cases in point:
- Researchers from Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, University of
Texas, concluded, "Compared with the low-carbohydrate diet, the
high-carbohydrate diet caused a 27.5-percent increase in plasma
triglycerides and a similar increase in LDL ("bad cholesterol") levels;
it also reduced levels of HDL ("good cholesterol") by 11 percent.."
- In the article "Treatment of Obesity With
Low-Carbohydrate Diets," Drs. Rabast et al. wrote: "Concentrations of
plasma triglycerides and cholesterol turned to normal during
[low-carbohydrate] therapy. There were no side effects."
- "Serum triglycerides decreased more after the
high fat diet (52 mg/dl) than after high protein diet (67 mg/dl)."
(Ibid.)
- Out of my About.com weight-loss community
members, 39 low-carb dieters mentioned cholesterol changes along with
their weight loss. Two of them have had their numbers worsen and 37 had
their numbers improve. Six reported
that their blood pressure also decreased.
Atkins dieters also reported improvements in their
cholesterol levels:
- A friend of mine went on it and her cholesterol
went from 266 to 184!
- After 3 months on the diet, my total
cholesterol has dropped to
160, my HDL is up to 35, (a high for me) and my triglycerides are down
to
107!
- Blood lipids, when measured at six weeks, six
months and one year
progressively, reduced from mildly elevated to normal.
- I dropped my cholesterol level by 33 percent.
- [My] HDL ("good") cholesterol increased so
much, my general practitioner asked me for the name of this book!
- I had a 100-point drop on my cholesterol level
from a very high 360.
- My "good" cholesterol went to 162 from 206!
Tryglicerides went 106 from 268.
- My cholesterol was 208; it has actually lowered
to 181.
- My readings average 111-123 not 170+, as was
the case with my
high-carbohydrate diet.
- My total cholesterol went from 176 (already
O.K.) to 153.
- My LDL/HDL ratio went from 2.83 to 1.39 and my
triglycerides from
82 to 47.
- My total cholesterol went from 219 to 168.
Only two dieters reported increases in LDL:
- My cholesterol went up from 230 to 278.
- I lost 7 lbs., but my cholesterol sky-rocketed
to 343.
As with any diet, its important to exercise to
boost your weight-loss, increase your muscle tone and help keep your
cholesterol levels in check.
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