Why did the Atkins Diet not raise cholesterol levels in many who tried it? Because it’s actually a low-fat diet. Think about it. What are the greasiest fatty foods in the American diet? Fries. Fried chicken. Fried fish. Cookies. Crackers. Candy. Grilled cheese. Pizza with extra cheese. Now say “no carbs” and what happens? You can’t eat any of these fatty foods. Plus what’s left to put butter or mayonnaise on? Of course, cramming cheese straight into your face is OK on that diet, and if that doesn’t raise bad cholesterol, it should at least raise some level of disgust.