Anecdotes are, of course, not proof. The fact that one person has no arterial plaque proves absolutely nothing.

I do have concrete proof that low carb put me in optimal cholesterol health. Couple of months ago I had a lab done by my psychiatrist. Apparently I'm the most improved patient and healthiest patient (in regards to cholesterol) she has ever seen.

In the more than a decade that I have been following (and slowly refining and improving) a low-carb diet plan, the only persistant problem I'm had with it is well-meaning fools telling me how "unhealthy" it is. As if I was actually healthier back when I was 100 lbs heavier, had severe arthritis & gout, and was almost night-blind...

Anecdotes are definitely not proof, but it's interesting that so many people are willing to completely ignore the mounting evidence that low-carb is the easiest and healthiest way to lose excess weight, or to maintain a goal weight.

Anecdotes are, of course, not proof. The fact that one person has no arterial plaque proves absolutely nothing.

Um, did you stop reading the blog post after that point?

I realize it's sort of like chiseling through stone to click on a link on the Internet, but try.

From the last link:

Since then, our enormous experience in metabolic manipulation and lipoprotein analysis has shown that there is a far better way to correct the causes of coronary plaque and seizing hold of heart scan scores. In particular, the explosion of small LDL has prompted major changes in the diet, specifically removal of wheat and cornstarch, the foods that trigger small LDL particles.

And do I not post often enough on low-carb eating that I need to start with a primer on how it benefits health every time?

I just recently had a physical. I'm 53 years old, 5'9", 178lbs, non-smoker, BP 108/70, pulse rate 66. I walked out feeling pretty good about my health. A week later I got an email from the Dr. saying that my cholesterol was too high and telling me that he had phoned in a prescription to my pharmacy. No discussion, no further explanation, no options except for the prescription and to tell me that I should restrict my diet to no more the 10g fat/day. I see an EBT (and a new physician) in my future.

I've started taking red krill oil Supposed to be better than fish oil-it's certainly easier. One small pill a dat as opposed to 2-3 large ones.

My cholesterol is a little high and I'm 33. However, my good stuff is super-high, and my bad stuff low. I eat cheese like it's going out of style. Low-fat dairy is a bad word here.

My mom called me up the other day, to marvel at coconut oil. IN the 80's it was literally banned it was so bad for now. Now it's great for you! These nutrition people have no idea what they're doing.

I follow low carb because it does work. But, honestly, I've grown to hate it. I miss so many foods that I love. And I still don't really "lose" any weight. The scale drops two or three pounds when I'm really good avoiding carbs, but if I have one stupid slice of pizza, or bread, it jumps right back up where I started. I am on a plateau. Not sure I lose any real weight because carbs attract more water. Dropping carbs will immediately reduce the scale.

And, for me, who doesn't enjoy eating tons of meat, it's kind of a miserable way to live. Great for you, Amy, 'cause you love bacon and steak, but I really miss...carrots...and BEANS...omg, I'd die for some hummus right now, but I can't. I'll literally gain 2 pds overnight.

I know I've read somewhere, or seen discussed here, that you must have a certain amount of fat. Maybe I'm not getting enough fat to break through this plateau? I cook everything in olive oil and apply low carb/high fat salad dressing to my endless (boring) salads. I just don't know. I'd eat straight butter if I could finally drop these last 10 pds (before my wedding in 3 weeks!)

Yeah, I just answered my own question reading through some LC forums. I've been doing this LC diet all wrong - without enough fat. I bet if I boost the my daily fat intake, I'll break this plateau.

The last time my cholesterol was checked, my doctor said my numbers were amazingly good. I am 63 years old. I did not tell him that I eat mostly cheese, pork chops, and steaks. I also take fish oil. I only eat carbs at breakfast--cereal.

Well, I just can't win can I. My arteries are hardened to 20 years over my age. I follow a low carb diet, not through any effort but simply from what I like.

Oh yeah - couple of litres of booze every day. That might be it.

Lovelysoul, beans are fine. My dad has been instructed to follow a paleo-type diet (pretty similar to what Amy and Gary Taubes promote) so I've been reading up - there's really no reason to avoid beans if you like them. Early man was just as likely to be eating some legumes and tubers as he was to be eating cured salami or hormone-laced beef, so I really don't think the early man argument holds up to excluding these food groups. This is a nutrition website I like a lot, it seems better aligned with your preferences:

http://summertomato.com/

(She has reviews of Taubes' two books, and lots of nice things to say about his work.)

Thanks, Sam.

"And, for me, who doesn't enjoy eating tons of meat, it's kind of a miserable way to live."

Me too LS. I go through these phases where meat and dairy gross me out. On low carb I lost 10 lbs in one week. I think it's going to be a temp thing for me as I find a new diet where I can maintain the weight. I love love veggies, tofu, beans, rice, etc.

I'm in middle of reading the New Atkins book. They repeat several times that too much protein w/o the right amount of fat will prevent weight loss. I forget the reason right now.

One vegetarian LC dieter suggested using coconut milk, which is really high in fat (21 grams per 100 gram serving and only 2.8 g carbs). He mixes it in his protein shakes. I think I'll try that. Also eating more avocado, egg salad, olives, etc. I had noticed that I seemed to drop some weight after eating egg and tuna salads, so I bet not getting the proper balance of fat to protein is my problem.

Thanks for the links Amy. Now, if you could come up with a good reason for me to cancel the colonoscopy;-)

And, for me, who doesn't enjoy eating tons of meat, it's kind of a miserable way to live

This is why I ultimately stopped my low-carb experiment. I'm sure I would have lost weight if I'd continued, considering the limited number of foods I enjoyed eating on that diet. I like some meat. But I can go weeks at a time without wanting any, and I love vegetarian food.

I have lost all my baby weight on the low-carb thing. I'm not so disciplined as to eat no carbs, though. I love my vanilla-caramel coffee creamer while I'm at work and I still think a little real sugar every now and then is better for me than those nasty artificial (a.k.a. chemical) sweeteners that taste so horrid. I love salads and beans have not been a problem for me (aren't they mostly protein, anyway?). My total cholesterol is only a little above normal and my triglycerides were 80 at last check and my NMR Lipoprofile test was great. I'm also back in my original jeans size only 5 months after having my son and I don't follow any exercise regimen, just the 2.5 miles (according to my pedometer) I walk at work every night and walking my three dogs, but that's not til warmer weather. I wish low-carb had been promoted more when I was a teenager. I was in lots of sports and rode my bike everywhere and still struggled with fluctuating weight.