Low Carb and Low Carb and Complementary Complementary Medicine-Medicine-an Introductionan Introductionto the Atkins to the Atkins PhilosophyPhilosophy

Jacqueline Eberstein, R.N.Jacqueline Eberstein, R.N.Controlled Carbohydrate Nutrition, Controlled Carbohydrate Nutrition, LLCLLC

What is Complementary What is Complementary Medicine?Medicine?

An expanded array of An expanded array of diagnostic tools and therapies, diagnostic tools and therapies, both conventional and non-both conventional and non-conventional, to treat illness or conventional, to treat illness or maintain health.maintain health.

These therapies should:These therapies should:

First, Do No HarmFirst, Do No Harm

Be the least invasiveBe the least invasive

Focus on the safest firstFocus on the safest first

Treat the underlying cause rather Treat the underlying cause rather than symptoms only.than symptoms only.

Included a three-pronged approach Included a three-pronged approach

Three Pronged ApproachThree Pronged Approach

Low Carb Lifestyle is the Low Carb Lifestyle is the foundation of the Atkins foundation of the Atkins protocols. Amount of carbs protocols. Amount of carbs individualized to the patient.individualized to the patient.

Supplement Protocol- minimum Supplement Protocol- minimum includes an iron-free multivitamin includes an iron-free multivitamin and omega 3 fatty acids.and omega 3 fatty acids.

ExerciseExercise

Goals of a Low Carb Goals of a Low Carb LifestyleLifestyle Maintain a healthy weight.Maintain a healthy weight. Return to a healthy weight.Return to a healthy weight. Improve insulin and blood sugar levels Improve insulin and blood sugar levels

regardless of weight.regardless of weight. Prevention of numerous chronic conditions Prevention of numerous chronic conditions

that burden our healthcare system and that burden our healthcare system and diminish quality of life.diminish quality of life.

Treatment of those conditions to minimize Treatment of those conditions to minimize the need for medications esp. for chronic the need for medications esp. for chronic conditions often leading to the use of multi-conditions often leading to the use of multi-medications.medications.

Effects of Excess WeightEffects of Excess Weight

Heart diseaseHeart disease Metabolic Metabolic

syndrome and syndrome and type 2 diabetestype 2 diabetes

Elevated uric acid Elevated uric acid and risk for goutand risk for gout

ArthritisArthritis GERDGERD PCOS, infertilityPCOS, infertility

Gestational Gestational diabetesdiabetes

HypertensionHypertension StrokeStroke Social and Social and

psychological psychological issues leading to issues leading to a poorer quality a poorer quality of lifeof life

Effects cont’dEffects cont’d

Fatty liver diseaseFatty liver disease Blood clotsBlood clots Increased risk of Increased risk of

cancerscancers Increased risk of Increased risk of

dementia and dementia and Alzheimer’sAlzheimer’s

Gallbladder diseaseGallbladder disease Sleep apneaSleep apnea

Kidney stone Kidney stone formationformation

Asthma-Asthma-especially in kidsespecially in kids

Effects of High InsulinEffects of High Insulin

Increases fat depositionIncreases fat deposition Increases triglycerides in the bloodIncreases triglycerides in the blood Promotes the manufacture of LDL Promotes the manufacture of LDL

cholesterol by stimulating HMG-CoA cholesterol by stimulating HMG-CoA reductasereductase

Causes unstable blood sugar by Causes unstable blood sugar by depressing effects of glucagondepressing effects of glucagon

Increase sodium retention and water Increase sodium retention and water retention= edema and HBPretention= edema and HBP

Prevents accessing fat stores for Prevents accessing fat stores for energy.energy.

Insulin cont’dInsulin cont’d

Negative impact on other hormones i.e Negative impact on other hormones i.e adrenals, eicosanoids etc.adrenals, eicosanoids etc.

Stimulates growth smooth muscle cells Stimulates growth smooth muscle cells in lining of blood vesselsin lining of blood vessels

Increases pro-inflammatory chemicalsIncreases pro-inflammatory chemicals Increases pro-thrombotic factorsIncreases pro-thrombotic factors Insulin-like growth factor can stimulate Insulin-like growth factor can stimulate

abnormal cell growthabnormal cell growth Increase breast cancer death ratesIncrease breast cancer death rates

Benefits of Blood Sugar Benefits of Blood Sugar Stabilization with Low CarbStabilization with Low Carb

Higher and more stable Higher and more stable energy levelsenergy levels

Decrease “brain fog”, Decrease “brain fog”, increased alertness and increased alertness and concentrationconcentration

Decrease sleep apnea Decrease sleep apnea and snoringand snoring

Stabilizes mood- Stabilizes mood- improves depression, improves depression, decreases anxiety and decreases anxiety and panic attackspanic attacks

Decrease seizuresDecrease seizures

Improves heart rhythmImproves heart rhythm Cope with stressors Cope with stressors

betterbetter Decrease exposure to Decrease exposure to

foods that cause foods that cause sensitivitysensitivity

Helps to quiet yeast Helps to quiet yeast activity in the gut and activity in the gut and mucus membranes mucus membranes linked to common linked to common symptomssymptoms

Supports better immune Supports better immune functionfunction

Improves skin conditionsImproves skin conditions

Why take supplements?Why take supplements?

Cannot meet all of our nutritional needs Cannot meet all of our nutritional needs from food alone.from food alone.Depleted food supplyDepleted food supply

Soil is depleted by the use of inorganic fertilizerSoil is depleted by the use of inorganic fertilizer Decreases the nutritional value of plant lifeDecreases the nutritional value of plant life

The use of cheaper ingredients in processed The use of cheaper ingredients in processed food products can cause nutrient deficienciesfood products can cause nutrient deficiencies

ChromiumChromium Essential Fatty AcidsEssential Fatty Acids

Extended transportation of foodExtended transportation of foodThe longer it travels, the more nutrients are The longer it travels, the more nutrients are

lostlost

Supplements cont’dSupplements cont’d

Food PreparationFood PreparationEvery type of food prep deletes Every type of food prep deletes

nutrients, we bake it, boil it, nutrients, we bake it, boil it, microwave it, and reheat the leftovers.microwave it, and reheat the leftovers.

It has been estimated that 80-95 It has been estimated that 80-95 percent of percent of

the micro nutrients originally found the micro nutrients originally found in in

food are lost before consumption.food are lost before consumption.

Why take supplements?Why take supplements? Greater need for nutritional Greater need for nutritional

supplements in today’s worldsupplements in today’s world– Accelerated free radical damage/requires Accelerated free radical damage/requires

increased anti-oxidant support increased anti-oxidant support PollutionPollution Sun exposureSun exposure Pesticides and other chemical additivesPesticides and other chemical additives SmokingSmoking StressStress Weight-loss, Weight-gainWeight-loss, Weight-gain Address Genetic Risk FactorsAddress Genetic Risk Factors Prescription medicationsPrescription medications

Top Five Supplements to Top Five Supplements to ConsiderConsider

Iron-free multivitamin-high potency w. Iron-free multivitamin-high potency w. plenty B complex and anti-oxidantsplenty B complex and anti-oxidants

Omega 3- EPA/DHAOmega 3- EPA/DHA MagnesiumMagnesium Vitamin DVitamin D ChromiumChromium Anti-oxidantsAnti-oxidants

Personalize your Personalize your programprogram

Consider your genetic factors-Consider your genetic factors-high homocysteine, diabetes etc.high homocysteine, diabetes etc.

Health promotion and disease Health promotion and disease preventionprevention

Target abnormal labsTarget abnormal labs Decrease the need for drug useDecrease the need for drug use Therapeutic doses vs. Therapeutic doses vs.

maintenance dosesmaintenance doses