| A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition | | | | Atkins helped bring to social consciousness. |
| demonstrates that the complete, ketone-producing | | | | However, there were some serious flaws in a |
| carb restrictions popularized by Dr. Robert Atkins in | | | | fewparts of his program. First, he believed in the use |
| his weight-loss program are not necessary for weight | | | | of Splenda. As you will see when my new book, |
| loss. | | | | Sweet Deception, comes out this fall, this strategy |
| Other Diets Just as Effective | | | | was never justified. |
| Severe carb restrictions cause the formation of | | | | I'm bringing up Dr. Atkins because the Mayissue of |
| ketones, which result when your body burns fat for | | | | oneof my favorite journals, the American Journal of |
| fuel due to inadequate carb reserves. Researchers | | | | Clinical Nutrition, published a great study that |
| found that weight loss could be achieved just as | | | | demonstrates the complete carb restrictions he |
| effectively without this level of carbohydrate | | | | promoted in the initial phases of his dietary program |
| avoidance. | | | | to lose weight just aren't necessary. |
| Metabolic and Emotional Effects | | | | In this new study, researchers learned weight loss |
| In addition, ketone-producing carb restrictions resulted | | | | could be achieved just as effectively without severe |
| in higher LDL cholesterol levels, and also adverse | | | | carb restrictions, causing the formation of ketones |
| metabolic and emotional effects, when compared to | | | | thatresult when your body burns fat for fuel due to |
| low-carb dietsthat did notrestrict carbohydrate intake | | | | inadequate carb reserves. And, several patients |
| to the point ofketone production. | | | | following the stricter Atkins diet had marked |
| American Journal of Clinical Nutrition May 2006; 83(5): | | | | increases in LDL cholesterol. |
| 1055-1061 | | | | Additionally, Dr. Atkins really didn't understand the |
| Dr. Mercola's Comment:Dr. Robert Atkins passed | | | | principles of metabolic typing either. Thus, his program |
| away a little over two years ago now. He was a | | | | worked well for patients who are protein types, yet |
| major pioneer in helping us | | | | was an unmitigated failure for carb types. |
| appreciatesomepowerfulinsightsabout insulin | | | | As I have saidabove,grain restriction is aprofoundly |
| physiology and how it could be used effectively to | | | | essential part of my Total Health Program. But as |
| control weight and nearly all chronic, degenerative | | | | useful as this principle is, it pales in comparison to the |
| diseases. | | | | power of metabolic typing. Without question, |
| I have been practicing nutritional medicine for well | | | | metabolic typing is the most important nutritional |
| over two decades. It is my primary physical | | | | understanding I have ever encountered. |
| intervention. There is no question in my mindthat | | | | You can get a jump start on learning what your |
| applying limited grains for those with elevated insulin | | | | metabolic type is, and how best to tailor your diet to |
| levelswas one of the most profound improvements | | | | it, by taking this free test. However, please |
| in patients' health I ever witnessed. | | | | understand that this free test is merely an example, |
| What does this mean? | | | | and it is not as accurate as the paid test that we |
| Ideally, you would want to measure yourfasting | | | | now offer. |
| insulin level, and if it was greater than 5-7 you should | | | | I was doing this test in my office for over five years |
| seriously restrict ALL grains. Yes, even whole | | | | before I could figure out a way to offer it online at a |
| unprocessed grains, and alternative grains like quinoa, | | | | reasonable cost. This is the same test that EVERY |
| amaranth, millet and teff. | | | | person in our practice is required to take. |
| If you don't want to measure your insulin levels, if | | | | Previously I would not offer the same test online |
| you have any of the following conditions you can be | | | | because we could not offer a system to have the |
| virtually assured that your insulin or leptin levels, or | | | | inevitable questions answered. So we invested over |
| both, are elevated. | | | | $100,000 to develop a software system and |
| High blood pressure | | | | infrastruture that will allow you to have your |
| High blood chloesterol | | | | questions answered. |
| Diabetes | | | | We have had many hundreds of people take |
| Overweight | | | | advantage of this new system. |
| So if you have any of the above conditions it would | | | | I am saddened that I never had the chance to meet |
| be wise for you to completely eliminate or severely | | | | Dr. Atkins personally. I suspect if we had a chance to |
| restrict ALL grains until you normalize those | | | | discussmetabolic typing,he might have adopted this |
| conditions.This is the profound knowledge that Dr. | | | | for his program. |