Atkins & Increased LDL

I've been on Atkins for 3+ weeks and been doing pretty well. I've stayed in Induction and did not deviate from plan. I had my bloodwork done and my LDL skyrocketed! Doc said if he were just seeing me, he'd put me on cholesterol medicine immediately! However, he knew I was on Atkins recently and said I had to change up whatever is causing the LDLs to increase. I'd like to stay on Atkins, but I wonder if there are some proteins I need to stop eating (like eggs everyday!) or fats that can help remedy this situation. Someone suggested South Beach but I'm pretty invested in this diet, however, not to the extent of having to take a pill! Also, has anybody experienced this as well?

Are you connected with the Atkins website? If so, they have a nutritonist who can address this issue with you. Usually the opposite happens.....but she could answer your question. Go to the blog and you can post a message for her there. Be sure to put her name in the heading "Attn Colette...."

Bummer!

thanks so much. will do.

Also, as I understand it, it's quite normal for the LDL levels to initially spike on Atkins. It's only when you've been on it for 3 - 6 months that the typical drops happen. Don't panic and I second the advice to check out the Atkins website. Lots of useful info there.

You should see a drop in a a few weeks. It should level out.

Yeah that is the body's initial response and is normal. But over time it will drop off (likely back to your norm, if not lower). The thing that most people, who swear by convential (& outdated) medical 'wisdom' is that the majority of cholesterol in your blood is a product of your body, not the food you consume. This being said your body is still producing cholesterol at the old level (what your body required when you were consuming, a starchier diet with less cholesterol containing food) when you add that with what you are consuming it will be high, until your body readjust to your new life style. This can take weeks to months.

Wow, I learned a lot from reading your responses. My LDL spiked 56 points, but I also had stopped the statin med as it gave me terrible side-effects. I had my BT last Friday; the result panicked me. Doc wanted me back on another statin, but I convinced him to let me try for a few month to see what happens. I am adjusting my fat to more vegetable source such as olive oil, flax, etc. I look for the cholesterol readings now in the nutrition info to keep it at around 200 per day. I am not always successful. I have several friends whose cholesterol dropped drastically after 6 months, one now tells me it's even better than normal. They are all low carbing. So let us not panick and keep going. We will see good readings from what people here tell us.
P.S. I have switched to egg whites for breakfast. I get them from Cosco. They come in 6 cartons to a package and are not bad at all. They are yellow like regular eggs so more appealing to the eye.

thanks all. i did post at atkins.com and got some really good info there too. still waiting for colette to respond, but the community there and here stated much the same and it makes sense. I'm going to revisit this with my doc and hopefully buy another month or two since my heart is one of my better organs i'll start looking at the cholesterol counts but i don't know about phony eggs!

Same thing happened to me. My PA suggested I do Atkins, then 6 months later when my Cholesterol, and LDH were worse she started me on a Statin RX. I said wasn't the increase from the fact I'm on Atkins and she said no it was because of my age ( 58 ). BTW I had lost 50 pounds in that 6 month time period too. Personally I think it is eggs. I hardly ever ate eggs before Atkins and now eat 10-12 a week. Oh yes bacon and BUTTER too !! I'm planning on a repete blood work in November along with a A1C.

thanks so much for all this info. there was great advice both places. and after reading and speaking to my doc, i'm going to stick with atkins but tweak the diet. i'm going to eat more chicken/fish and a little less beef and eggs I think. i'm adding benefiber for fiber to my drinks and limit my bacon and see how that works out... maybe too much of a good thing isn't so good i hope after another 3 months my cholesterol will level out b/c this diet seems to work best for me,esp the lack of carb cravings!

Have them check it again about 3 months after doing strict Atkins. Mine went down as well as my Triglycerides and cardio CRP