Low Carb and Complementary Medicine- an Introduction to the Atkins Philosophy Jacqueline Eberstein, R.N. Controlled Carbohydrate Nutrition, LLC

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

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

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

Goals of a Low Carb Lifestyle Maintain a healthy weight. Maintain a healthy weight. Return to a healthy weight. Return to a healthy weight. Improve insulin and blood sugar levels regardless of 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. 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. Treatment of those conditions to minimize the need for medications esp. for chronic conditions often leading to the use of multi-medications.

Effects of Excess Weight Heart disease Heart disease Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes Elevated uric acid and risk for gout Elevated uric acid and risk for gout Arthritis Arthritis GERD GERD PCOS, infertility PCOS, infertility Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes Hypertension Hypertension Stroke Stroke Social and psychological issues leading to a poorer quality of life Social and psychological issues leading to a poorer quality of life

Effects contd Fatty liver disease Fatty liver disease Blood clots Blood clots Increased risk of cancers Increased risk of cancers Increased risk of dementia and Alzheimers Increased risk of dementia and Alzheimers Gallbladder disease Gallbladder disease Sleep apnea Sleep apnea Kidney stone formation Kidney stone formation Asthma-especially in kids Asthma-especially in kids

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

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

Benefits of Blood Sugar Stabilization with Low Carb Higher and more stable energy levels Higher and more stable energy levels Decrease brain fog, increased alertness and concentration Decrease brain fog, increased alertness and concentration Decrease sleep apnea and snoring Decrease sleep apnea and snoring Stabilizes mood- improves depression, decreases anxiety and panic attacks Stabilizes mood- improves depression, decreases anxiety and panic attacks Decrease seizures Decrease seizures Improves heart rhythm Improves heart rhythm Cope with stressors better Cope with stressors better Decrease exposure to foods that cause sensitivity Decrease exposure to foods that cause sensitivity Helps to quiet yeast activity in the gut and mucus membranes linked to common symptoms Helps to quiet yeast activity in the gut and mucus membranes linked to common symptoms Supports better immune function Supports better immune function Improves skin conditions Improves skin conditions

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

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

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

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

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