My cholesteral, HDL, and tricylycerides etc. are all much better when I've been low-carbing for a while.
But there are different types of low-carb plans. Atkins is low-carb but not high-protein, and yes, you can eat lobster and steak but according to his last book you don't need a lot of it (about 30% of your total calories). One difference between Atkins and some other low-carb plans is that he doesn't limit fats, except for trans-fats. So natural, saturated fats are OK. The authors of other plans disagree with him, yet they all agree that it's the high-fat, high-starch diet that's the worst and has caused America to be so fat.
Of course it's all very controversial with lots of research and statistics on both sides but I'm going to agree with the concept that the low-fat movement over the last 20 years has worsened the health of Americans. We have continued to become fatter.
WIth a higher-fat diet, we simply tend to eat less, be more satisfied and don't constantly obsess over food.
Well, I'm not sure it's a mistaken impression. I've read the book, and I know about "fat fasts," and Atkins DOES (or did, before he died) talk up the amount of delicious steaks and lobsters you can eat all the time on the plan. Yeah, you're supposed to eat veggies too, but that much meat can't be good for you IMO.
But "fat-fasts" are only supposed to be done in extreme cases of metabolic resistance, and he talks about it as a short-term emergency measure. I think what people forget is that his system is based on a ladder approach. Initially it's mostly meats and vegetables, then you add in more vegetables, then you add in fruit, then you add in dairy , then you add in grains, etc. The problem is that many people stay on level one for too long because it promotes the most rapid weight-loss which was not his intention at all (for most people).
I've tried every conceivable diet over the years and the 'moderation' approach simply doesn't work for me because as soon as I eat anything starchy, sugary my body goes haywire. The problem with the Atkins approach for me is that it is so limited initially and it's not easy. I'm very tempted to go with something a bit more liberal like the Schwarzbein principal or South Beach - but last time I tried SB, even though I was diligent I simply didn't lose any weight.
My personal feeling is that we all have to find something that works for us long-term and becomes a lifestyle. As long as you are happy and you are healthy - then I say - do what works!
Interesting low-carb info for those interested:
frontline: diet wars: interview: gary taubes | PBS