The Atkins diet is not recommended for women experiencing menopause because of calcium depletion.  Because the Atkins diet advocates limiting processed carbohydrates like sugar and flour, the body must derive more of its energy from other sources such as stored fats. 

This process of converting stored fats into energy and the digestion of more non-carb sources of food causes more acid to be produced.  The increased acid is offset by calcium.  When there is insufficient calcium in the food ingested, the body will get the calcium from alternate sources—such as the bones.  Therefore, people on the Atkins diet generally need to increase their calcium intake naturally or via supplements.   

The reason why the Atkins diet is not recommended for women experiencing menopause is because they are already experiencing the same calcium loss—without being on the diet.  Menopause causes extreme hormone deficiencies and imbalances that cause the blood to be acidic, just as it becomes after being on the Atkins diet.  Osteoporosis is a prime concern for women because of menopause.  The acidic blood caused by the hormone imbalances is counteracted by calcium that must be leached from the bones as there are insufficient amounts in the diet.

So, because both menopause and the Atkins diet lead to extreme calcium loss that must be offset in most cases by supplements, they are not recommended in conjunction with one another.  However, some physicians may be able to prescribe specialized diets and calcium supplements that can accommodate the extreme calcium loss. 

Many women may not want to take any more supplements, vitamins, or any other form of medication but still want to enjoy all the proven benefits of the Atkins diet.  It is possible to increase calcium consumption naturally by eating more cheese or butter.  You can also eat leafy green vegetables also after the Induction phase is over and you are allowed to bring more carbs to the dinner table.  Spinach, cabbage, chicola and even kale.

The acidic nature of the blood is offset by calcium, just as it is when on the Atkins diet.  However, unlike the increased acidity of menopause which is caused by hormone imbalances, the Atkins diet causes acidic blood and urine due to increased digestive functioning and fat burning.  The result is the same in both cases, however—calcium ends up being leached from the bones.  These effects can be offset with increased calcium intake through alternative sources, such as supplements or green leafy vegetables after the Induction phase.

The muscles in your intestines are the heart and soul of your digestive tract.  A process known as propulsion propels your food along the gastrointestinal tract using coordinated muscle contractions.  There are areas along your digestive tract where propulsion occurs and other areas where the food rests, referred to as regeneration points.  Together, this movement and resting of food is known as Peristalsis.

For people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the process of peristalsis does not function properly.  The normal rhythm of the muscle contractions malfunctions and produces a number of symptoms, including: 

 1.  Severe abdominal pain
 2.  Bloating
 3.  Mucus in stool
 4.  Constipation
 5.  Diarrhea
 6.  Depression and fatigue
 7.  Nausea
 8.  Severe heartburn

There are a lot of known factors relating to IBS and most of them have to do with improper diet.  In particular, a diet that rich in fatty or fried foods is likely to aggravate symptoms.  Those on the Atkins diet need to be sure their food intake does include a lot of saturated fats as these are especially likely to cause Irritable Bowel Syndrome flare ups.

Diets that are low in fiber are also associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  It is believed that many of the problems associated with IBS are due to elevated levels of toxins within the digestive tract.  Diets that are low in fiber tend to produce increased problems with constipation which will lead to feces being backed up in your digestive tract.

More and more toxins are released into your blood stream the longer the feces remain in your body.  Prolonged periods of constipation may lead to IBS when toxins are released and damage intestinal muscles.  In addition to using a colonic cleanser occasionally, those on the Atkins diet should be sure to include vegetables that are low in carbohydrates but rich in dietary fiber in their meal plan.  This will help keep the digestive tract clean, bowel movements regular, and occurrences of Irritable Bowel Syndrome to a minimum. 

Finally, laxative abuse is another common source of Irritable Bowel Syndrome flare-ups.  Those on the Atkins diet should have no need for laxatives once they increase their fiber intake after the period of Induction.  During this initial phase, however, it may be necessary to take fiber supplements to help maintain regularity and avoid the need for laxatives.

The Atkins diet does not use stimulants to achieve weight loss and it is not intended to actually boost energy levels although some people do notice these effects.  Actually, the Atkins diet should tend to stabilize energy levels and eliminate those “peaks” and “valleys” we all experience throughout the day. 

Energy spikes and dips can be caused by two problems that are eliminated by the Atkins diet:  caffeine (or other stimulants) and insulin spikes.  The Atkins diet does not allow for caffeine consumption and it is actually dangerous—both the diet and caffeine are diuretics and thus lead to dehydration.  The body will experience a drop in energy levels for the first few days when you brave the world without caffeine.  However, as the body adjusts and ketosis kicks in, your energy levels should rise and then stabilize.

The stabilization of energy is achieved on the Atkins diet because it restricts process carbohydrates and sugars known to cause sudden spikes in the blood sugar levels.  The body adjusts by increasing insulin levels—so, there is the ride up when the blood sugar spikes, and then the ride down when the body finally compensates with enough insulin.  By the time ketosis is achieved, the energy levels should stabilize and remain consistent throughout the day.

For those that were on a low-fat diet prior to starting the Atkins program, there may be a noticeable energy increase—especially in the beginning.  A low-fat diet relies mainly upon food intake for all energy and therefore does not burn fat stores as readily as someone on the Atkins diet.  Therefore, in between meals, your body can literally run out of steam because it has run out of ready-to-use energy.  When a person transfers over from a low-fat diet, they tend to experience a noticeable elevation of overall energy that finally stabilizes at some point soon after Induction.
 
The Atkins diet can have some extremely beneficial effects upon a person’s overall energy level.  Instead of enduring the spikes and sudden drops in energy level experienced by those consuming high levels of processed carbs, those on the Atkins diet have a consistent energy level once ketosis has been achieved.  This energy level should not fluctuate greatly so long as the person remains true to the Atkins diet and does not reintroduce refined carbohydrates or sugars into their diet.

Near where I live, the Christmas sales and advertising now starts just after Halloween, which is next week.

So, you’ll soon be planning family meals, sending out cards, and buying gifts for friends and family.

And that’s what this special message is about, because as joyous as gift-giving can be . . .

. . . for some of us it can be a bit of a struggle as we load debt onto our credit cards, and fear the bill that comes mid-January.

Just like last year.

And we spend the whole rest of the year paying for our generosity. Something here just isn’t quite right.

That’s why I thought it so important to let you know now about “How to Own Your Paycheck Again“. This program has been helping regular people like us take back control of our own financial futures from the credit card companies. Leo Quinn, the author who wrote from his own personal experience, has been sharing his simple and easy-to-follow secrets with thousands of people since 1997.

Leo shared some emails that his readers sent to him. A lot of them sound like this:

“. . . I have only been using your method now for a little less than a month but I can already see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. I have used your formulas to figure out that I will be debt free in just 7 years. Great news for me since I was hoping to retire in 10 and the thought of retiring without debt is a fantastic prospect! 

Karen Blaszyk, Venice Florida “

Do you have medical debt? Leo showed me this email he received from someone in your situation:

“I have accumulated about $30K of debts from medical expenses that my insurance did not cover. I foolishly charged these expenses to my credit cards to avoid being hassled by the hospital’s collection department.
. . .
Since I started using and applying your methods, I am sleeping better, and I have much less indigestion. Worry was taking its toll on me.

Jim Rittenhouse”

After going through a stack of these, I couldn’t justify not telling you about Leo’s program — or at least leading you to a place where you can read more.

Go to Leo’s “Own Your Paycheck” site now.

I’ve a feeling it will help you sleep better this holiday season.

Regards,

–Mark

P.S. As a special favor to me, Leo has reduced his already low offer for this important program for those who really need it. You’ve got until November 4 to decide. (And because of his simple, full guarantee, that shouldn’t be too hard.)

Go now to see how you can Own Your Paycheck.

Coffee contains caffeine which many of us know to be a natural stimulant and it is found in numerous beverages and energy pills.  Stimulants, however, cause the body to speed up.  The increased speed will require additional energy and the body responds modifying blood sugar levels which in turn cause the release of insulin.  In addition, the body will use more water trying to keep up with the increased level of activity.  In the end, caffeine functions as a diuretic.

When ketosis is taking place, the body will also use more fluids.  So when it is working correctly, the Atkins diet will also act like a diuretic.  The combination of coffee and the Atkins diet is only possible when you use decaffeinated coffee.  You have to be careful because a lot of decaffeinated coffees will still have some level of caffeine in their product. 

Some may be tempted to think that they can keep their caffeinated coffee by simply drinking more water.  It is possible to increase water intake to account for the diuretic effects of coffee and the Atkins diet.  Unfortunately, this is also going to overtax your kidneys as they try and process and purify the additional water.  In time and with enough coffee overload, you risk severe kidney damage.  Normal coffee intake needs to be offset by additional water intake already, so your kidneys have been under additional strain ever since you introduced caffeine into your diet.  But add to the normal strain of caffeinated coffee the additional diuretic effects of the Atkins diet—and you seriously increase chances for major problems with your kidneys in the years to come.

One of the myths that people try to believe that it is the cream or sugar that makes coffee incompatible with the Atkins diet.  While sugar is clearly not approved by the Atkins diet, cream is on the acceptable list of dairy products—thus, the worst offenders only cut out the sugar and keep the cream in their daily coffee routine.  But as we have seen, only caffeinated coffee should be used with the Atkins diet but be careful about the creamer—many products on the market have carbs in them so be sure to read the label carefully.  Even if you do not drink coffee or any of those “energy drinks”, many of our favorite soft drinks are loaded with caffeine as well.  The Atkins diet will require increased fluid intake anyway, so be sure to avoid caffeine and other diuretics that will further tax your kidneys and lead to potential health problems down the road.

Like other sweet sugar free recipes we use sugar substitute instead of real sugar. Another big plus the the use of fresh cranberries instead of the prepackaged ones. The good thing about cranberries is, it is a natural antioxidant so it can clean the body. Now without further delay here is the recipe for sugar free cranberry sauce.

INGREDIENTS:
1 bag of fresh cranberries (12 oz)
1 C “sweetening power” from artificial sweetener of your choice
1 C water
1/4 teaspoon salt
PREPARATION:
1. Put cranberries in a pot on the stove, and pick through to remove soft and/or brown ones.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir, and bring to a boil on medium-high heat.
3. Stir frequently - the cranberries will pop, and then release their “gel” - and the sauce will come together like magic. Cook until it’s the consistency you want - 5-10 minutes.

Makes 8 servings of approximately 1/4 Cup. Each has 3 grams of effective carbohydrate and almost 2 grams of fiber.

You might want to ask why gravy? Its full of carb and it has a high possibility of interupting the Atkins Diet Plan. Let me assure you guys that this is no ordinary gravy. I won’t put anything that has a high carb count on Atkins. So now let me show you a sauce to make your turkey more flavorful and moist at the same time.

Ingredients:

turkey neck and giblets (or pkg of chicken livers)
2 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 tsp. Kitchen Bouquet (optional)
1 teaspoon xanthan gum

Separate liver from giblets and refrigerate in ziploc bag. Put remaining giblets and turkey neck in large saucepan and cover with 6 cups water. (If using chicken livers instead of turkey giblets, use only neck right now.) Add veggies and spices. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer covered for 2 1/2 hours.

After roasting turkey, remove fat and juice drippings to saucepan and set aside.

Add liver and cook 15 minutes more. Remove giblets/livers from liquid. Remove bay leaves, then lenderize liquid with veggies (you can use a blender or food processor if you like.) Chop giblets and add to liquid. Stir in drippings, thicken with xanthan gum and heat just before bubbling. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Add Kitchen Bouquet for color if you like.

Makes 6-8 servings. 2 net grams of carbohydrate per serving.

So how do we get through this? Easy we can make a low carb stuffing that will not ruin the Atkins Diet Plan. Using low carb stuffing is one of the things we can do to lessen the intake of carbs on thanks giving. And now here is the recipe.

Ingredients:
8 bacon slices
1/2 pound (or more) butter
1 cup finely chopped shallots or onions
8 cups (approximately) bread crumbs*
1 Tablespoon fresh tarragon (or 2 teaspoons dried)
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
2 cups chopped celery
1 Tablespoon salt, or to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 teaspoons dried rubbed sage
1 Tablespoon dried thyme
1 1/2 cups pecans or hazelnuts, toasted; coarsely chopped
2 cups canned chicken or turkey broth or fresh stock
3 large eggs, beaten to blend

Preheat oven to 325°F.

If preparing stuffing to bake in dish, butter 8×8x2-inch baking dish.
Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Using tongs, transfer bacon to paper towels; reserve 1/4 cup bacon drippings in skillet. Cool bacon and crumble.

Add butter to bacon drippings in skillet and melt over medium-high heat. Add onions or shallots and celery; sauté just until pale golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in sage, thyme, parsley, and tarragon. Add to bread mix cubes in bowl. Add pecans and crumbled bacon to the mix. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Stir 1 1/2 cups chicken broth into stuffing. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in eggs. Reserve 9 cups stuffing for turkey. Moisten remaining stuffing with remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth. Transfer to prepared dish. Bake stuffing in covered dish alongside turkey for 1 hour. Uncover stuffing and bake until top begins to crisp, about 5 minutes longer.

Serves 12 to 14. Approximately 4.5 grams net carbs per serving, but since serving size and optional ingredients vary, you might wish to make adjustments according to your actual ingredients and serving size preferences.

Unfortunately, this is a complicated question to answer because there are several potential causes of fatigue.  One of the reasons many of us chose the Atkins diet was because we were tired of being tired all the time.  Overeating is a very common cause of fatigue.  We have all had a large supper and found ourselves wanting to doze off afterwards.  Oddly enough, undereating or starving yourself to the point of passing out is also a common cause of fatigue.

Without a steady influx of food at regular intervals, the body must attain all of its energy from fat stores.  This process takes time and it requires water.  Prolonged drains upon the fat stores will result in fatigue, especially if any significant physical activity is also being undertaken during the period without food.  Energy cannot be converted fast enough to meet demands so fatigue results and forces the body to conserve energy.

Fatigue is not an issue with the Atkins diet because the state of hunger is never induced or prescribed.  In fact, it is the contention of Dr. Atkins himself that practitioners can eat as often or as much as they like.  So long as the calories are coming from high-energy sources such as protein, the number is not important.  Therefore, with no limit on food intake or times of feeding, the Atkins diet will not force a person to be hungry for any sustained period—and thus not cause fatigue in this instance.

However, the Atkins diet is considered a diuretic—in other words, it causes dehydration because of ketosis and changes to the metabolism.  Dehydration is another known source of chronic fatigue and constipation.  Both of these conditions are possible in the Induction phase but can be avoided by increasing fluid intake to compensate. 

Another source of fatigue is blood sugar problems.  By following the Atkins diet correctly, your blood sugar problems should diminish as the body burns fat instead of carbohydrates for energy.  However, people with thyroid problems and diabetes may still require medication to better control the condition.  Be sure to consult with your diet prior to beginning the Atkins diet if you have either of these serious medical conditions.

The Atkins diet may cause temporary fatigue in the beginning due to dehydration, but you can compensate fluid intake and eliminate this problem.  Overeating, undereating, and blood sugar problems are all either eliminated or reduced by the Atkins diet.  Because all are known causes of fatigue, it is certainly true that the Atkins diet helps reduce fatigue and produces an even distribution of energy throughout the day.

Ingredients
1 4-6 pound TURKEY BREAST, fresh or thawed
1/2 Teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 Cup honey
2 Tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
Season interior and exterior of turkey breast with salt and pepper.
In (13 x 9 x 2 inch) roasting pan, place turkey breast on a V-shaped rack. Roast, uncovered, in a 325 degree F preheated oven for 1-1/2 to 2-1/4 hours or until meat thermometer registers 170 degrees F in the deepest part of breast.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine honey and mustard. Brush glaze over breast during final 20 minutes of cooking.
Remove from oven and allow turkey breast to stand for 10 minutes before carving.

Nutritional Info

Total Carbohydrate 3g(per Serving)

Total Fat 6g (per Serving)