Best Book for Someone Considering Low Carb?
 

Hello Everyone! My husband tells me he's willing to start low carbing the day after Easter. I'm thrilled, but I'd like to be able to give him a good reference book that can explain what's going on. He read Wheat Belly years ago and pronounced it too extreme.

His cholesterol is elevated but he's not currently taking statins, though the doc wanted him to. His blood sugars are very slightly elevated and his doc told him to watch it. He's on high blood pressure meds. I'd like him to understand what's going on with his body. He's supposed to go back to the doc in the middle of June (with new bloodwork) so I want him to understand what may happen with his cholesterol numbers.

Any recommendations? I was thinking about the original Atkins or maybe one of Gary Taubes' books, but I've never read any low carb books, so I'm basing that on things I've read other people say.

I think Gary Taubes book "Why We Get Fat" is the best book to explain the science behind low carb eating in easy to understand terms.

Jean

Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes explains why LC works well, still my favorite for the basics but it is not a "diet book" per se. However, the Duke Clinic diet in its appendix might be considered "more extreme" than Wheat Belly. [Edit a few minutes later: Jean and I are twins :lol: ]

I also like the 2010 Atkins book because it has more of the science, and the diet encourages more vegetables, so maybe he might perceive that one as "less extreme". If he considers No Sugar and No Grains as "extreme", then most good LC plans might appear difficult to him. What about LC bothers him?

Another option is the DietDoctor Beginner explanation of LC and his 39 minute talk on the Food Revolution, not a book but website is a terrific searchable resource. https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb
That plan can be very flexible, with three levels of carb strictness, allowing more vegetables, some fruits, nuts, etc. depending on his goals...does he need to lose weight? get BP down? (which can happen quickly on LC...read the good DietDoctor info on BP) Much to research on that website as needed.

You've already heard my favorite recommendations from two of my favorite recommenders.

On the subject of statins, I'm pretty well brainwashed against them. :lol: But when my DH's doc wanted to prescribe a statin for him (for no better reason than the fact that he's over 70--the DH not the doc), I went for the Big Guns. I like The Great Cholesterol Myth by Jonny Bowden, Stephen Sonatra, and colleagues.

Best wishes.

Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution might make him want to keep his blood sugar in control now so he doesn't become diabetic later.

Thanks Everyone! So I got Why We Get Fat and when I gave it to my husband, he laughed and said, "You trying to tell me something, hon?" He hasn't even given the book a second glance, but as of yesterday, he has been eating low carb. Over the years, he has successfully lost and gained weight lots of times. He's always done it low calorie, but that is getting tougher for him for a lot of reasons. Right now, he's at the highest weight of his life and this time he's got some associated issues (blood sugar and cholesterol).

There's a whole adjustment in his thinking that needs to take place. Last night, he was at a work meeting in a bar and he texted me that he was hungry. I told him to get a burger without the bun. But it was too late, the meeting was wrapping up and he had just assumed that since he couldn't get a salad he couldn't eat anything on the very limited menu. So you can see, it really would benefit him to read up on low carb. :read:

That bunless burger comes so handy everywhere! Might have been chicken wings or nuts too. If he travels and stops at fast food places, make a list of the possibilities at places he likes. The DietDoctor website has "what to eat" graphics of LC food groups with a scale of least to more carbs that might help.

Thanks so much Janet! I'll do it. I think his biggest obstacle is he is a real carbovore. His normal day would look something like
B: 2 Philly style soft pretzels with mustard (and maybe another two spread throughout the day)
L: a breaded chicken sandwich with chips and/or fries
D: chicken salad with some potato chips and then some pretzels and ice cream for dessert (all washed down with two beers).

He's having a tough time transitioning into meat and vegetables mode. Tougher than I had because I've never had much of a sweet tooth and even though I really, really like bread, I have also always very much enjoyed the taste of plain meat with just salt on it. While he likes vegetables and salads more than I do, in many ways, meat has just been something he's eaten with his carbs. The good news is he's down nine pounds since Monday, but he keeps telling me it's just water, which I'm sure it is, but I wish he were getting excited about the loss for motivational purposes.

Remember that water he's losing can drop his BP like a rock. Check BP frequently and call the doctor's office for an adjustment or removal of meds if he sees consistently low BP at home.

He likes pretzels ;) you could attempt to be a super-wife and make these keto pretzels. :) I found recipe with a Google search. No guarantees, I rarely attempt the LC substitutes, and have never seen this website/recipe blogger before, but pretzel recipes are out there! Who knew?http://www.myketokitchen.com/keto-r...-soft-pretzels/ Check our recipe section below, maybe you can find other bready substitutes.

Dr Jason Fung's book, "The Obesity Code" and "The complete Guide to Fasting" written in collaboration with Jimmy Moore and other superbly-qualified experts.

My daughter has 'stolen' both books to read - !

I was pretty anti-Atkins before I read New Atkins for a New You. It's a good gateway book! :)