Comments on: Breakfast at the Squeeze In

By: Christine0

Christine0 — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:01:15 +0000

The Squeeze In is a LC gem! Just after Thanksgiving I jumped on the hardcore LC bandwagon again (after losing 90 lbs eight years ago and slowly gaining 50 of it back with 30 of that in the past two years) and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to resist the high carb items that are on most menus. I didn’t have to worry about that at the Squeeze In. I chose the Racey Tracey and when I said “no bread no homefries!”, the waitress offered grilled tomatoes, fruit, and cottage cheese as substitutes. The place is a family business where it seems that all of the waitresses are related to each other. The walls are covered in Tahoe trivia and high school scribble. And last summer I had a Bloody Mary there that I completely enjoyed.

I am enjoying reading your blog and all of the comments. I am happy to report that after one month of really living la Low Carb vida loca, I’ve lost 15 lbs and I feel great. For years I felt that I was on the plan but I had increased my carbs with low-carb substitutes and more vacations. And for years I was surprised that I kept gaining weight! Thanks again for your program and your support.

Thanks for the diet history. I always love to hear success stories. Keep after it.

By: kris

kris — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:16:02 +0000

Have you seen this yet? Should launch in power point:

http://www.autospies.com/images/users/Agent001/audi_rs6.pps

As an Audi fan, thought you might be interested.

What an amazing presentation. I would love to have an Audi R6, but not with gas prices what they are.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:59:32 +0000

I’ve had “Darcy Farrow” running through my head ever since I read this post, and since my husband is beginning to complain, I thought I’d better pass it on. Here’s a link to Ian and Sylvia singing it with Linda Ronstadt at their 1986 reunion show: http://www.lindaronstadt.com/files/DF/LR_I-S_DarcyFarrow.wmv (if you don’t know the song, the Truckee is mentioned in the last verse).

I’m at the end of a week in Paris, where it’s very easy to eat low carb (especially if you stay in an apartment, which makes breakfast easier). Despite the abundance of bakeries, there is an equal abundance of butchers, fishmongers, delis, and fruit and vegetable shops. And I find it much easier to have a low carb lunch at a restaurant here than in Canada.

Thanks for the link. I had never heard the song.

I wish I were spending a week in Paris.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:19:53 +0000

I believe you have stated that you can change your LDL particle size by elimination of grains and sugars and going low carb. Are there studies that show this? I have heard that this kind of nutritional approach works only in about 25% of the population, and maybe not at all in those of normal weight. I have not found any studies on pubmed related to this. Perhaps, i just cannot find them. I tend to see tons of data for low carb diet related to weight, but what about its benefits in controlling heart disease in those of us who have no weight problem? Are there studies to support this along with particle size which matters most?
Thanks much

I don’t have these papers where I can put my hands on them right now, but, trust me, there are at least a dozen papers (probably more) showing that following a low-carb, higher-fat diet coverts LDL particle size from small to large.

If you want to roam through PubMed looking for them, you can enter: atherogenic dsylipidemia AND diet in the search window.

Since the cause of heart disease isn’t really established, all we have to go by are what are called putative risk factors, which means factors that a lot of experts think are risk factors. A large number of studies have shown that low-carb diets improve virtually all of these putative risk factors.

By: Cindy Moore

Cindy Moore — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:08:45 +0000

Totally off subject, but I didn’t see a general comment area.

I’m sure you’ve seen Jupiter? I saw this video, and started reading the comments and immediately decided to post to you. http://blogs.theheart.org/topolog/2008/11/9/jupiter–how-will-it-change-your-practice-?nl_id=tho10nov08

Note the 1st paragraph of the comment Posted by Rick at Sun Nov 09 23:34:15 -0500 2008:
“I always find it interesting to hear the comments about cost and NNT, but patients/families don’t care about this when it comes to life or death.”

But do they TELL patients the absolute risk reduction?

And this:
“If I can reduce my patients risk of dying from 2% to 1%, that is nothing to turn up our noses at ”

Apparently math isn’t his strong suit?

The diabetes finding were interesting. Wonder if someone will look at that data….and if they collected enough.

See my post today for my take on the study.

By: Cathie McGinnis

Cathie McGinnis — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:19:24 +0000

My cousin swears that in your book, Protein Power, that you said if you have elevated blood pressure that you should eat Egg Beaters instead of the real thing. Is this true? I have never heard anything like this.

Thanks, Cathie

I don’t think we mentioned Egg Beaters specifically. We wrote that perhaps persistent high blood pressure even after following a low-carb diet may come from excess arachidonic acid. Since egg yolks contain a fair amount of arachidonic acid, we suggested limiting them. Research since has shown this to not be necessary on a low-carb diet, so don’t worry about it.

By: David MacPhail

David MacPhail — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:03:58 +0000

Memo to those who recommend the use of statins when C-Reactive Protein is elevated. It’s the magnesium stupid.

Magnesium Supplements Reduce Inflammation
July 28, 2006
A daily magnesium supplement could reduce the levels of a inflammation that could lead to heart disease in people with low dietary intake of the mineral, says a US study.

�The key finding in this study is that magnesium intake from supplements has an impact on the likelihood of having elevated C-reactive protein, separate from and in addition to dietary magnesium intake,� wrote lead author Dana King in the latest issue of the journal Nutrition Research (Vol. 26, pp. 193-196). C-reactive protein (CRP) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, meaning it is a signaling molecule associated with increased inflammation. Chronic inflammation, brought about by an over-expression or lack of control of the normal protective mechanism, can lead to a range of inflammatory related disease, particularly cardiovascular disease.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:49:38 +0000

Read the Boston Globe story. The logic of these people escapes me. Why is it better to die from the complications of diabetes or the horrible side effects of a statin drug than to “possibly” die from a stroke or heart attack? Oh wait, I know why.. the former puts a lot of money in the pockets of AstraZeneca and the doctors they pay to peddle Crestor.

How do we fix a system that is so bizarrely twisted? It makes me heart sick.

By: Judy B.

Judy B. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:00:17 +0000

Looking forward to your comments on the latest stain abomination!

By: David MacPhail

David MacPhail — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:14:18 +0000

The laughable side of the most recent campaign to get the entire world on statins is that there is almost no recognition of the existence of a widespread magnesium deficiency in the general population let alone any recommendation for supplementation to correct it. This, despite numerous references such as the following:

“Our findings suggest a significant inverse association between magnesium intake and diabetes risk. This study supports the dietary recommendation to increase consumption of major food sources of magnesium, such as whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables.”

“The incidence of sub-clinical magnesium deficiency is common in diabetes
and cardiovascular disorders. However, limited attention has been drawn to the impact of magnesium deficiency on late diabetic complications, including
cardiovascular disorders. of a more long-term regulatory element. Alterations of
intracellular or extracellular magnesium concentration may affect cell function through its effect on calcium
handling.

“Magnesium deficiency has been demonstrated in 7�11% of hospitalized patients and is found to coexist in up to 40% of patients with other electrolyte abnormalities,
particularly hypokalemia and to a lesser extent, hyponatremia or hypocalcemia.”

Magnesium, l-arginine, N-acetyl cysteine… the list goes on.