Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Mental Acuity and Low Carb Zombies
In this video I discuss the subject of mental acuity and emotions on the Atkins Diet and the whole “Low Carb Zombies” myth. Critics: “Low Carb Emotional Zombies” Not only may the Atkins Diet impair mental functioning, it may impair emotional functioning as well. Researchers at MIT are afraid the Atkins Diet is likely to make many people–especially women–irritable and depressed.[197] The Director of MIT’s distinguished Clinical Research Center measured the serotonin levels in the brains of …
Was not aware of the potassium (although electrolyte imbalances can certainly be impactful), so thanks for forwarding on the info.
potassium supplements (atkins recommends them) help more than just leg cramps–very low carb levels (induction) may not provide enough potassium. low potassium levels are associated with irritability. after just a few weeks, my mood evened out and the depression lifted.
high ketogenic diet is great for those with alzheimer’s since their brain’s glucose receptors don’t work well. quickly much brain function is restored. though simply eating coconut oil can help those folks.
You are welcome… Thanks for watching!
Man, You are True Inspiration
Thank You
Check out the “I cheated, what now?” video. Basically it comes down to why you cheated. Was it a rational choice that you chose to break plan? Or was it a craving that went overboard? If it was the first, you might be able to pick up where you left off. If it was a craving, then you might need to do Induction for awhile to help with cravings.
In either case, I would suggest planning for how to handle these situations in the future.
hey kent,
I just finish my first month on atkins, and I ate a little piece of cookie my 5 yr old made for me. should i start induction over again.
Who knows, but I couldn’t be happier now compared to 5 years ago. I am not stressing or fixated on my weight problems or any the health issues I had. I absolutely agree with you.
I have been on Atkins since April 17th of this year. The 1st week you do feel a bit under the weather but after that I have felt better than I have ever felt before. I have lost a total of 66lbs this year. No wonder I feel more energetic. I think the MIT’s are only showing the temporary side affects of switching your body from burning carbs as fuel for fats for fuel. Maybe the MIT study was a no carb. LOL. I don’t know but this is the best thing I have done for myself. Thanks Kent. =)
Thanks Kent, I was wondering about that… that is good to know… I stalled out for about a week and thought it was my protien intake so I lowered it from 170g to about 120g and I started losing again but some what slow going… when I did that I up’d my fat intake… Do you think if I were to lower my fat which is currently 168g I will lose more consistantly? use my hunger as a guide but still keep ratios at 70f – 25p – 5c? let me know your thoughts… thanks SlimQuest
Those numbers should be fine for your size and stage of the diet.
Can you eat too much Fat? Yes, the body uses dietary fat first for fuel and then body stored fat, so overconsumption restricts the amount of stored fat you consume. That said the body cannot store fat without the presence of insulin, whose release is restricted on low carb.
So if you aren’t hungry and still eating fat, you are overconsuming it. I am a proponent of listening to your body and its own hunger cycles for how much.
glycogen is as good for the brain and organs as glucose. I made sure I had a ‘quick’ menu ready before I started atkins so I could just grab and go between meal preparations. In my case I was already anxious and agitated having pcos. I found I can take zoloft and klonopin without effecting ketosis. But most antidepressants do. I feeel goood..
Also, look up Dr. Ezrin and Trazodone here on youtube. He talks about the value of sleep on Atkins.
Hey Kent quick ? Is there such thing as eating to much fat? I am eating on average about 168.5g fat per day which is about 67%. Protien is 149g at about 28% and carbs are at 32.5g at 5%. Are these good levels to be at? Please let me know your thoughts.. thanks
I started exercising (walking and lifting weights) about 4 weeks after starting the Diet. I think it is more important to get the eating right first and then progress to exercising. Check out my exercise videos (I have 3 of them) on why exercise sucks initially and why it gets better after 4 weeks. They also deal with what you should eat or not before an exercise, and what is critical to have during the exercise.
Thanks Kent, I will look for mayo without sugar. I really limit myself to deli meats. some turkey. I like bacon I use low sodium sugarfree bacon that has 0g carbs. Thank you I appreciate your help. Did you start doing excercise when you first started at your heaviest? I get really exhuasted from just walking sometimes. I don’t feel I have enough energy when I excercise or walk alot. What did you do to start? should I eat any carbsor fat before I work out? will that help? SLIMQUEST
Mayo is normally fine — I use Mrs Clark or a grocer brand of mayo which does not include sugar.
Almost any fat is ok to eat except trans fat (partially hydrogenated anything is evil).
Luncheon meat I suggest waiting until later or specifically getting high quality brands like Boar’s head especially on Induction. With you being at OWL you may be able to tolerate something with slightly higher carb 1g per serving. Bacon, I am not a believer in the nitrite problem. Ensure only 0g carb.
quick ? do you discourage eating mayo… I just found out it has sugar in it and I have been having 5 tbs per day since I started YIKS… are there sugar free versions out there? what other fats can I use besides butter, EVOO, OO, protien fats… also do you discourage bacon or other cured meat due to sugar, nitrate content? Please let me know your thoughts… thanks SlimQuest
Or perhaps more accurately – most of what the mainstream media tells you is wrong. Any of the major studies with Atkins Diet show an improvement in all heart markers.
Watch my Atkins Diet Misconception video about cholesterol.
The short answer is all you know about Saturated fats, cholesterol, and triglycerides is wrong.
Hello Kent, are all fats created equal on the Atkins Diet? is it better to stick closer to the mono & poly unsat fats for better bood lipids? Is it better to eat fish & chicken rather than bacon, pork, beef etc? Do cholestrol levels increase during the weight loss phase, due to my body burning fat for fuel? Fat being mostly made up of Trigly will I have a temporary increase in Trigly during the weight loss phase & then lower as I lose more fat off my body? Please let me know your thoughts?
Thanking your brother for motivating you and you motivating me. It’s a great infectious thing.
i am sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. he inspired you to lose the weight and now you are inspiring others. god bless.
Certainly being constipated can delay weight loss.
Weight loss happens or not happens for a variety of reasons. I would not worry about a 4 day no weight loss period. I would lose weight in spits and spurts and not lose for a few days.
Google Atkins Diet Weight loss is not linear for why this is.
Hey there Kent, hope all is well… I lost about 10 pounds in the first week and now I have stayed at the same weight for the past 4 days… I have been in Ketosis according to the keto sticks…, drinking 120 ounces of water and keeping my carbs below 35… was wondering if you can be in ketosis and not lose weight… Please let me know your thoughts on this… I did find out that I can not eat cheese not even a little because during that 4 days I was having trouble with constipation. thanks
That should meet the 64 oz minimum water intake. Unsure on mg per packet, but it would count for one serving. Dr. A never broke down how many mg equals a serving, but I think a packet and bottle of powerade would both equal just one serving.
Low Carb may have been more popular once, but that does not mean it’s any less effective or valid today than in 2003.
I check nutrition facts for my carb counts. Fitday or thedailyplate also work pretty well.
As for food prep times, I don’t spend any more time than I do for my kids already,. For me, cooking chicken breasts or browning ground beef is just as easy for one meal as 2 or 4 meals.