Low Carb and Complementary Medicine- an Introduction to the Atkins Philosophy

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Low Carb and Complementary Medicine-an
Introductionto the Atkins Philosophy

• Jacqueline Eberstein, R.N.
• Controlled Carbohydrate Nutrition, LLC

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What is Complementary Medicine?An expanded
array of diagnostic tools and therapies, both
conventional and non-conventional, to treat
illness or maintain health.
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These therapies should

• First, Do No Harm
• Be the least invasive
• Focus on the safest first
• Treat the underlying cause rather than symptoms
  only.
• Included a three-pronged approach

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Three Pronged Approach

• Low Carb Lifestyle is the foundation of the
  Atkins protocols. Amount of carbs individualized
  to the patient.
• Supplement Protocol- minimum includes an
  iron-free multivitamin and omega 3 fatty acids.
• Exercise

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Goals of a Low Carb Lifestyle

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Return to a healthy weight.
• Improve insulin and blood sugar levels regardless
  of weight.
• Prevention of numerous chronic conditions that
  burden our healthcare system and diminish quality
  of life.
• Treatment of those conditions to minimize the
  need for medications esp. for chronic conditions
  often leading to the use of multi-medications.

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Effects of Excess Weight

• Heart disease
• Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
• Elevated uric acid and risk for gout
• Arthritis
• GERD
• PCOS, infertility

• Gestational diabetes
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Social and psychological issues leading to a
  poorer quality of life

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Effects contd

• Fatty liver disease
• Blood clots
• Increased risk of cancers
• Increased risk of dementia and Alzheimers
• Gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea

• Kidney stone formation
• Asthma-especially in kids

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Effects of High Insulin

• Increases fat deposition
• Increases triglycerides in the blood
• Promotes the manufacture of LDL cholesterol by
  stimulating HMG-CoA reductase
• Causes unstable blood sugar by depressing effects
  of glucagon
• Increase sodium retention and water retention
  edema and HBP
• Prevents accessing fat stores for energy.

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Insulin contd

• Negative impact on other hormones i.e adrenals,
  eicosanoids etc.
• Stimulates growth smooth muscle cells in lining
  of blood vessels
• Increases pro-inflammatory chemicals
• Increases pro-thrombotic factors
• Insulin-like growth factor can stimulate abnormal
  cell growth
• Increase breast cancer death rates

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Benefits of Blood Sugar Stabilization with Low
Carb

• Higher and more stable energy levels
• Decrease brain fog, increased alertness and
  concentration
• Decrease sleep apnea and snoring
• Stabilizes mood- improves depression, decreases
  anxiety and panic attacks
• Decrease seizures

• Improves heart rhythm
• Cope with stressors better
• Decrease exposure to foods that cause sensitivity
• Helps to quiet yeast activity in the gut and
  mucus membranes linked to common symptoms
• Supports better immune function
• Improves skin conditions

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Why take supplements?

• Cannot meet all of our nutritional needs from
  food alone.
• Depleted food supply
• Soil is depleted by the use of inorganic
  fertilizer
• Decreases the nutritional value of plant life
• The use of cheaper ingredients in processed food
  products can cause nutrient deficiencies
• Chromium
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Extended transportation of food
• The longer it travels, the more nutrients are lost

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Supplements contd

• Food Preparation
• Every type of food prep deletes nutrients, we
  bake it, boil it, microwave it, and reheat the
  leftovers.
• It has been estimated that 80-95 percent of
• the micro nutrients originally found in
• food are lost before consumption.

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Why take supplements?

• Greater need for nutritional supplements in
  todays world
• Accelerated free radical damage/requires
  increased anti-oxidant support
• Pollution
• Sun exposure
• Pesticides and other chemical additives
• Smoking
• Stress
• Weight-loss, Weight-gain
• Address Genetic Risk Factors
• Prescription medications

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Top Five Supplements to Consider

• Iron-free multivitamin-high potency w. plenty B
  complex and anti-oxidants
• Omega 3- EPA/DHA
• Magnesium
• Vitamin D
• Chromium
• Anti-oxidants

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Personalize your program

• Consider your genetic factors-high homocysteine,
  diabetes etc.
• Health promotion and disease prevention
• Target abnormal labs
• Decrease the need for drug use
• Therapeutic doses vs. maintenance doses