Atkins Diet Review
Atkins Diet - Overview
The Atkins Diet is probably the most well
known low-carb / high-protein diet. It first appeared back in the early
70’s. The Atkins Diet claims you can eat all the protein and fat
that you care to and still lose weight. You just need to cut out the carbohydrates
to become thin. It's all explained in: Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution,
by Dr Robert C. Atkins.
Atkins Diet - Simple Introduction
When you first begin the Atkins Diet, you
go on an Induction Phase – this is to put you into ketosis. You cut
out almost all carbohydrates except for a few greens, but you can eat
sour cream and steak and eggs. Many doctors say that ketosis is bad because
it puts a strain on your kidneys and may be fatal.
After the first 2 weeks on the Atkins Diet,
you are permitted to reintroduce a few carbohydrates into your diet -
but very few. The diet states you add until you stop losing weight - that
way you will know your limit in order to lose weight effectively.
In talking with people who have attempted
the Atkins Diet, I found that many couldn’t even get through the
induction phase because they didn’t feel well eating like that.
Also, while Dr. Atkins claims that your
cholesterol will get better – there were several that had either
no improvement or their numbers became worse.
Robert H. Eckel, MD, chair of the AHA's
(American Heart Association's) Nutrition Committee, is unconvinced that
Atkins Diet controls cholesterol in the long term and points out that
the Atkins Diet has few published results and no long-term studies to
back up his claims.
"Our [major] concern is the high-fat
content of the diet and its overall effect on the cardiovascular system,"
Eckel says.
Atkins Diet - Family Eating
While there are a few success stories with
those using the Atkins Diet, many people find it becomes a very unfriendly
diet if you need to feed a family, especially children.
Atkins Diet - Claims
- You will lose weight fast.
- You can eat large amounts of protein
and still lose weight.
- You eat very little sugar and white
flour.
Atkins Diet - Drawbacks
- Initial weight loss may be quite fast,
but is not always sustainable.
- A ketosis-inducing diet may strain the
kidneys.
- As many foods high in animal protein
may also be high in saturated fat, your saturated fat intake may be
too high for comfort.
- Giving up or severely restricting potatoes,
corn, bread, fruits and vegetables and much more for as long as it takes
to lose the weight, is not a user-friendly diet plan.
Atkins Diet - Our Opinion
- We are not very keen about recommending
more restrictive low-carb / high-protein diets, for weight loss, unless
the individual is obese. Some of these diets restrict healthful foods
that provide essential nutrients and don't provide the variety of foods
needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. People who remain on these
diets very long may be at risk for inadequate vitamin and mineral intake
as well as more potential health risks.
- For severely obese individuals, the
cardiovascular risks of a high protein diet may be worth taking in order
to reduce the extra, well-documented risks of severe or morbid obesity.
However, this issue is outside the scope of this review and should be
settled between yourself and your doctor. For individuals who are not
seriously obese, we do not recommend the more restrictive type of low-carb
/ high-protein diet plan like Atkins Diet.
- If clinical evidence emerges to demonstrate
that an Atkins-type high protein diet offers long term healthy weight
loss, we will be happy to recommend it.
FOOTNOTE:
American Heart Association Media Advisory (11/19/2002) - High Protein
Diets
Here is a short extract from the recent
American Heart Association statement on high protein, low carbohydrate
study.
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Media reports about a small study funded
by the Robert C. Atkins Foundation may have created the erroneous impression
that the American Heart Association has revised its dietary guidelines.
This is not the case.... Here are the American Heart Association’s
concerns with the study:
- The study is very small, with only 120
total participants and just 60 on the high-fat, low carbohydrate diet.
- This is a short-term study, following
participants for just 6 months. There is no evidence provided by this
study that the weight loss produced could be maintained long term.
- There is no evidence provided by the
study that the diet is effective long term in improving health.
- A high intake of saturated fats over
time raises great concern about increased cardiovascular risk –
the study did not follow participants long enough to evaluate this.
By way of contrast with this small study,
a 12-year Harvard study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
was also reported at this meeting. This study of 74,000 women showed that
those who consumed more fruits and vegetables were 26 percent less likely
to become obese than women who ate fewer fruits and vegetables over the
same time period. “This is a much more compelling study regarding
weight control, because it involved many more individuals over a much
longer period,” says Bonow.
“Bottom line, the American Heart Association
says that people who want to lose weight and keep it off need to make
lifestyle changes for the long term – this means regular exercise
and a balanced diet,” he says. “People should not change their
eating patterns based on one very small, short-term study. Instead, we
hope that the public will continue to rely on the guidance of organizations
such as the American Heart Association which look at all the very best
evidence before formulating recommendations.”
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Related Low Carb Diet Links
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Beach Diet
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High Protein Diet
High Protein Diets
Ketosis
Ketogenic Diet
Carbs, Fat and Diet
Carbs for Breakfast
Diets and Liver Problems
Carbs, Diet Nutrition and
Calories
Low Carb Foods - Read Labels
Carb Intake in Diet
Dietary Fat, Cholesterol
and Strokes
Calories, Carbs and Diet
Atkins Diet - Health Questions
Atkins Diet and Health
Atkins Diet and Weight Loss
Low Carb Diets - Health
Concerns
What is the Glycemic Index
Low GI Diet
Low GI Diet Meals
Low GI Diet Snacks
Low GI Diet Foods
Low GI Diet and Potatoes
How is Glycemic Index
Measured
What Affects Glycemic
Index Values of Carbs
GI of Bread, Potatoes
Rice and Pasta
Glycemic Load
Carbs and the Glycemic Index
Glycemic Index and Weight
Loss
Low Glycemic Index Diets
and Weight Loss
Low Carb Diets and Nutrition
High Protein Diets
to Maintain Weight
Atkins Diet - Kidneys
and Osteoporosis
Diet Fat and Heart Disease
Carbs, Diet and Cancer
Low Carb Diets, Calories
and Weight Loss
Bookmark this page for more articles
on low carb dieting - coming soon!
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Source: American Heart Association
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