Possible causes of Heart Disease from the Atkins Diet perspective

The term "heart disease" is often used interchangeably with the term cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. 

CVD is mostly associated with atherosclerosis, which is a build-up of plaque that consists mainly of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances.

This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through them. This can lead to the formation of blood clots, which block blood flow to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.

The causes of heart disease are many and depend on the type of the disease. However, there are common risk factors that may increase the risk such as high blood pressure, high triglyceride, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, and obesity as well. 

These factors are mainly associated with bad dietary habits. According to many researches, a high carbohydrates diet can develop all these health risks factors.

Based on the modern diet guidelines, the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for carbohydrates is between 45% to 65%. This is considered a very high percentage and indicates that most of our diet is composed of carbs.

Accordingly, our current modern diet is suggested to promote many risk factors that could lead to heart disease, and result in a heart attack or a stroke. These include:

- High levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL): excessive glucose in the body as a result of excess carbohydrate consumption can cause high cholesterol levels. The additional glucose in the body is transformed into triglycerides in the liver. High triglycerides levels are associated with increased risks of heart disease. 

This is due to the fact that the triglycerides formed in the liver are paired with certain types of proteins and are called VLDL (very low-density lipoproteins). VLDL are transported out of the liver and stored as fat. Some parts of VLDL travelling in the blood are broken down by specific enzymes, and these small parts are sent back to the liver and released again as LDL or bad cholesterol.

- High levels of blood sugar: when carbohydrates are consumed, the liver metabolizes them into glucose. Accordingly, when carbs are consumed in big quantities, this results in excessive glucose in the blood. High levels of blood sugar could lead to atherosclerosis, and hence increase the risk of developing heart diseases.

- Weight gain: being overweight is a risk factor associated with many diseases and conditions, including heart diseases. This is because an increase in fat increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels, hence can cause several heart problems. Carbohydrates is a main factor that can lead to weight gain because of the following aspects: 

- More hunger: consuming carbohydrates would trigger an insulin spike, and this will make the person feel hungry again. Accordingly, a diet rich in carbs might lead to weight gain because people will tend to eat more. 
- Less fat burning: the body uses glucose as a primary source of energy for the cells to survive. This is mainly because it is easier to process glucose and burn it compared to fat that is more difficult to burn. Subsequently, when we consume a diet rich in carbohydrates, the body burns the carbs first and leaves the fat untouched since carbohydrates are available in sufficient quantities.

Learn everything about heart disease and find all the natural solutions to treat it prevent it naturally, including various diet programs, alternative medicine, vitamins, supplements, herbal medicine, and home remedies.

Why Atkins Diet  helps for Heart Disease

Atkins diet is suggested to help decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases because it can reduce the risk associated factors. As such, the diet helps reduce weight, and improve cholesterol and triglycerides, and blood sugar profiles.

The Atkins diet is a low carbs diet that includes sources of meat, fish, dairy, and some nuts among others foods that are low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats. Research has shown that a high carbohydrate diet has been directly linked to weight gain, and associated with many risk factors leading to heart disease.

A study titled “ Low-Carbohydrate-Diet Score and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women” showed that women who ate a low-carb diet that was high in vegetable sources of fat and protein, had a 30 % lower risk of heart diseases as compared to women who ate a high-carb, low-fat diet.

However, women who ate low-carb diet that were high in animal fats and protein did not show the same beneficial results.

Furthermore, research confirms that overweight individuals are at a high risk of developing heart diseases. Given that the Atkins diet is quite effective for weight loss, this is an additional important factor that the diet can help with.

How Atkins Diet works for Atherosclerosis

The Atkins diet works to reduce the risks of heart disease and even prevent them, by lowering carbohydrates consumption and incorporating a variety of healthy fats and meat in the diet. 

This is done mainly by influencing the various risk factors associated with heart disease.

Hereafter, we cover in details how the Atkins diet works to achieve this:

- Lower bad cholesterol: small particles of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) pose a higher risk of heart diseases. Current researches suggest that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are associated with a higher consumption of carbohydrates.

A study titled “Effect of short-term low-and high-fat diets on low-density lipoprotein particle size in normolipidemic subjects” provided evidence that following a low carbs diet that is high in fat can increase the size of (LDL) particles or bad cholesterol, and at the same time decrease the percentage of small LDL particles. 

Accordingly, by lowering carbohydrates consumption, the Atkins diet is believed to decrease the percentage of small LDL particles, and this aspect would lower the risks of heart diseases.

- Increase good cholesterol levels: people with low levels of HDL or good cholesterol are at greater risk of heart diseases.  Current researches suggest that lower levels of HDL are associated with a higher consumption of carbohydrates. 

A review study titled “Effects of Low-Carbohydrate Diets Versus Low-Fat Diets on Metabolic Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled clinical Trials” showed that following a low-carb diet increases HDL levels more than following a low-fat diet.”

Accordingly, by lowering carbohydrates consumption, the Atkins diet is believed to increase the level of HDL, and hence would lower the risks of heart diseases. Plus, this diet promotes good fat which would increase further the HDL level.

- Lower triglyceride levels: it is commonly known that high levels of triglycerides in the blood increase the risk of heart diseases. Current researches suggest that these elevated levels of triglycerides are associated with the consumption of carbohydrates, especially refined sugars. 

A review study titled “Effects of Low-Carbohydrate Diets Versus Low-Fat Diets on Metabolic Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled clinical Trials” showed that a low-carb diet decreased triglycerides levels in all populations. 

By lowering carbohydrates consumption, especially refined carbs and sugar, the Atkins diet is believed to reduce the level of triglycerides in the body. Hence, this would lower the risks of heart diseases.

- Reduced blood sugar levels: it is commonly known that high blood sugar levels and diabetes are both factors that can lead to heart diseases. 

Current researches suggest that increased blood sugar levels and insulin secretion are associated with high carbohydrates diet consumption.

A study titled “The Effect of Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus” showed that a low carb diet can improve blood sugar levels more than a low-fat diet.

Accordingly, by lowering carbohydrates consumption, the Atkins diet is believed to reduce blood sugar and insulin levels, and hence would lower the risks of heart diseases. To learn more about this, you can check the section on Atkins diet for diabetes. 

- Lower blood pressure: it is commonly known that hypertension is a risk factor leading to heart diseases. Current studies have shown that low carbs diets, may be helpful in reducing high blood pressure levels. 

Accordingly, by lowering carbohydrates consumption, the Atkins diet is believed to reduce hypertension, hence lowering the risks of heart diseases.

- Weight loss: being overweight is commonly known to be a risk factor leading to heart diseases. 

Current researches have shown that excessive consumption of carbohydrates and sugar leads to weight gain. Therefore, limiting these elements in the diet can help reducing weight. 

The Atkins diet, being low in carbs, is believed to contribute to weight loss. This happens mainly because in the absence of carbs, the body is forced to burn fat for energy, hence fat storage gets reduced in the body. To learn more about this, you can check our section about Atkins diet for weight loss.

Atkins Diet foods for Atherosclerosis

The Atkins diet restricts carbohydrate and stresses on protein and fat intake. Supporters of this diet recommend it as an everlasting regimen that should be followed as a lifestyle across the individual’s lifespan for healthier outcomes.

The Atkins diet promotes foods that are considered low in carbohydrates or carbohydrate-free for consumption. These foods include:

-    Fish and seafood

-    Pork, turkey, and chicken

-    Eggs

-    Non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, lettuce, cucumber, kale, asparagus…

-    Unrefined oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, walnut oil… 

-    Full fat dairy including butter, heavy cream, sour cream, and hard cheeses that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates such as blue cheese, American cheese, Swiss, cheddar, feta …

-    Herbs and spices

Atkins Diet for Heart Disease: What you should Avoid

The Atkins diet restricts carbohydrates consumption and tends to eliminate many foods based on their carbohydrate content. Accordingly, the diet removes the following foods from the regimen:

- All types of grains, legumes, and starches

- Sugar and alternative sweeteners

- Sugar sweetened beverages and drinks

- Most fruits and vegetables that are high in carbohydrates

- Starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn

- Vegetables oils like corn oil, canola oil, soybean oil …

- Condiments including bagged sauces and mixes

- Most dairy products that are high in carbohydrates such as milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese

- Alcohol

- Reduced fat and diet products

Atkins Diet for Heart Disease: precautions

There are several side effects that might come along when you follow a low carbohydrate diet such as the Atkins diet. When there is an elimination or even restriction of carbohydrates from the diet, symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, headaches, sleep disturbances, trouble breathing, irritability and mood swings, and bad breath might occur.

Digestive problems also happen with the Atkins diet due to several reasons such as constipation and diarrhea. Even nausea might follow as a result of inadequate fiber intake secondary to carbohydrate restriction.

Another important factor to pay attention to is nutritional deficiencies. Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies are prevalent when omitting a food group or certain food types. The Atkins diet restricts carbohydrates and fruits, and this increases the risk of nutritional deficiencies.

Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment.

Additional precautions for patients with Diabetes

An additional complication can happen if the body is accumulating high amounts of ketone bodies that can show up in the blood and urine. This is known as a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and is a serious complication for patients with diabetes. It can be life threatening and dangerous, and therefore people following an Atkins diet should always do proper monitoring and conduct regular tests to check their blood and various health indicators. 

Atkins Diet for Heart Disease: side effects

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