Different Diets

Here are some of the more popular diets:

Pritikin Diet - severe total fat restriction. Lately, they allow more non-saturated fats. High carbohydrate content of the diet can worsen cholesterol and triglycerides in certain patients.

Dr. Atkins’s Diet Revolution - a diet high in saturated fat and low in carbohydrates (resulting in fat breakdown or ketosis). After a meal of saturated fats, there is a dysfunction in the arteries, including in those that supply heart muscles with blood. As a result, the lining of the arteries (the endothelium) is predisposed to constriction and clotting.

Dr. Dean Ornish’s Diet - severe total fat restriction and liberal consumption of carbohydrates (this diet is tough to follow). Results in improved vascular health. Doesn’t distinguish types of fat (most polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are good for you, according to Dr. Ornish). In selected patients, the high carb intake can result in prediabetes syndrome. Today, the Ornish program puts greater emphasis on high-fiber carbs.

The South Beach Diet - severely restricts high glycemic index carbs, such as white bread, rice, pasta, potatoes (sweet potatoes are better, Dr. Agatson says), sugar, candy, fruits, baked goods, jams, jellies, donuts, etc. Allows such foods as bacon and eggs, stuffed tomatoes with tuna fish, fish, turkey, chicken, beef, limited fruit (in Phase 1 of the program) - anything eaten with fat slows the absorption rate of carbs. All vegetables are fine because they generally contain fiber. Fruits are not good, because of their high sugar content, but after phase 1, the strictest initial phase, fruits can be eaten again. Fruit juices, such as orange juice and apple juice, are bad because of their high sugar content and lack of fiber, which slows down the absorption of sugar. (Beer is worst of all, because the maltose sugar in it is worse than glucose or sucrose, according to Dr. Agatson.) Carrot juice, beet juice, and watermelon juice are all bad, because of their high sugar content. Bananas are also bad for the same reason. From page 96 of “The South Beach Diet” by Arthur Agatson, M.D., large LDL and HDL particles are better than smaller ones: “The smaller LDL can squeeze more easily under the lining of blood vessels, where they form the plaque that narrows the arteries.” Dr. Agatson tests for Lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, and C-Reactive Protein (a marker for inflammation of the blood vessel lining, which the latest research has shown can play a big role in arteriosclerosis and heart attacks).

47% of Americans have prediabetes. Dr. Agatson believes they can be helped by his diet plan. There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1 – thought to be caused by some damage to the pancreas - possibly by a virus. The pancreas produces too little insulin.

Type 2 - the pancreas makes too much insulin; too much body fat makes it difficult for insulin to do its job. The pancreas sends out too much insulin which causes the blood sugar levels to plummet, which causes the sugar cravings. When insulin isn’t working properly, it takes longer to store the fat you ate. All of this fat causes the liver to emit harmful particles that deposit fat and cholesterol in the blood vessels in your heart.

PM

10/15/2021