Atkins is a healthier lifestyle in regards to cholesterol. My mother lowered hers from 287 to 220 in a few months.
A very informative article, available on the web, is "What if it's all been a big fat lie?" by Gary Taubes:

http://www.mercola.com/2002/jul/24/carbs1.htm

It's a really amazing look at how the whole low fat thing got started (jiggered up research, for one thing) and how little proof there is that eating low fat & high carb is good for you.