Atkins Diet

[Teri]

I am wondering what the current consensus of the apparent 'results' of the Atkins diet in reducing weight and cholesterol is amidst the macrobiotic community in general? Any specific links I should read? It is hard for me to believe this can, in any way, be a healthy diet. What are the risks they are taking...and what, if any, are they sufferring from as a result of all this animal intake? Any statistics coming in on these people?

Any information would be greatly appreciated as I am constantly having this put in my face and want something substantial to say other than they risk gal and kidney stones....I don't even know if this is being reported as a result of the diet...

Thank you very much!!

Teri

[Johnnyzen]

The Atkins Diet is dangerous and has a high failure rate. Do you know anybody who has lost weight on teh diet and kept it off for several years or even a year?

Teh thinnest healthiest people on teh planet follow a mostly starchy plant based diet, similar to Macrobiotics, like the Mediterranean Diet, teh Okanaoan Diet, the Hunza Diet or Macrobiotics.

I have seen several articles on the dangers of the high protein diets. Check EarthSave's website. The diet has been condemned by such mainstream organizations as teh American Dietetic Association, Weight Watchers International, and many medical journals.

The bottom line is that caloric intake and excercise determine body weight. A low fat plant centered diet like Macrobiotics, McDoughall or Ornish diets allow plenty of bulk and food, with less fat and calories, and ample fiber. Diets like Atkins are deficcient in fiber, which can lead to obvious problems. The diet is not natural, and cannot be sustained for any length of time without serious health consequences, in my opinion. Some of those problems could include: heart disease, kidney problems, liver problems, etc.

Atkins himself was overweight, apparently, by around 20 pounds. Look at advocates of a vegan diet plan, like Dr. McDoughall, Dr,. Ornish, Dr. Barnard. They are all lean men. They have debated the Atkins prople many times, and there is no contest. Look at Michio Kushi, and other MAcrobiotic teachers. they all eat lots of unrefined carbohydrates, and are very lean and healthy. YOu decide which makes more sense, a diet of whole plant foods or a diert of processed cheese, bacon and meat!

[Johnnyzen]

Atkins Diet Controversy

Low-Carb Diet Gets Thumbs Down from Medical Group
by Rick Hall, MS, RD
Low-carbohydrate diet guru Robert Atkins, MD received official disapproval last week from the American College of Preventive Medicine. Despite recent stories and small research projects showing that Atkin's high-meat, high-fat program induces significant weight loss, the medical community cites concerns over the controversial diet plan.

Earlier last month, the Atkins diet plan received positive reviews from the press after a six month study funded by Atkins concluded that very low-carbohydrate diets result in weight loss and improved blood lipid profiles. The researchers also concluded that participants of the program reported bad breath, headaches and - in some cases - hair loss.

Atkins recommends keeping dietary carbohydrate intake to about 20 grams per day. The National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) Food and Nutrition Board recommends no less than 120 grams of carbohydrate per day for optimal health and brain function.

The American College of Preventive Medicine was not convinced from Atkin's short-term studies. In a position paper, the physicians' group called the diet program potentially dangerous and ultimately ineffective.

"Of course, the Atkins Diet can produce weight loss in the short term, and it can lower cholesterol," said Dr. David L. Katz, a member of the ACPM Board of Regents and Director of the Prevention Research Center at the Yale University School of Medicine. "It achieves its results by restricting calories, as do all fad diets. People can attain rapid weight loss and lower cholesterol by eliminating any entire food category from their diets, but that doesn't mean it's good for them. Serious illness such as AIDS and cancer tend to cause weight and cholesterol to plummet, but clearly these are not desirable for health."

The debate over low-carbohydrate programs will continue for years. Researchers are beginning to embrace the idea that high sugar and highly-refined carbohydrate diets are contributing to the cause of obesity and diabetes. The NAS Food and Nutrition Board has relaxed previous recommendations of high carbohydrate intake to a more moderate range of 45-65% of total calories. Still, nutrition research does not support very low-carbohydrate diets and no major medical or nutrition organization endorses the approach for weight loss.

About two-thirds of Americans are currently overweight and nearly one-third of the population is obese. According to the American Obesity Association, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess U.S. deaths and annual healthcare costs of approximately $100 billion.

[Teri]

Thanks, yes I am convinced Atkins is unhealthy but was surprised to see so many people lose weight on it, I couldn't believe it. I just want to tell the Atkins fans some statistics....the disapproval of The American College of Preventative Medicine is one very good stat. I would like to keep my eye on stats as they come...I want more.

One thing I was prepared to say to these people was that if Atkins is the healthy diet everyone has been looking for, then we need to stop having babies! Because one thing our Earth cannot handle is our soon to be twelve billion people all eating a meat centered diet! So it is obvious we cannot live within or ecological means and have no place in this eco-system...hence ...we need to stop having babies!

That's how frustrated I've been with this whole thing! I'm so tired of being put on the defensive on this issue...oh well...the truth , they say will set us free, but no one said it would always be fun....

yours in peace and health!
I will post again, I'm sure. This is an awesome site! Thanks for your quick response!
Teri

[Johnnyzen]

Teri, if you look hard enough, you will find many articles about the dangers of Atkins et all. I recommend you buy John Robbins' book DIET REVOLUTION. It has many facts about teh health and ecological hazards of a meat diet, and briefly discusses low carb diets. I think John Mc Doughall has also written on it. Check his website. He is an amazing doctor. I met hime awhile back. He has a videotape series on low fat vegan whole foods diet advantages. Dr. McDoughall will personally answer any emails.

From a weight perspective, the number of people who keep the weight off after following Atkins is very low compared to intelligent weight plans like Weight Watchers. The key to weight loss is a good support group, which Weight Watchers has.Atkins himself, who has heart problems, was not thin. Some say he was 20 pounds overweight. Barry sears, who advocated a similar low carb diet, is not thin either. INterestingly enough, Barry Sears now advocates using soy for protein, since he discovered the disadvantages of meat, with a new book called "THE SOY ZONE".

[iqusion12]

I agree that a diet consisting of meat and animal fats cannot be a good thing. However, people do lose weight on the diet in short term. Competitive bodybuilders such as Arnold Schwarzenneger in the 1970's followed a very similar high protein low carb diet to lose fat right before a competition. The thing is they only followed it for 6-8 weeks and then went to a more balanced, healthier fare.

I am wondering what the current consensus of the apparent 'results' of the Atkins diet in reducing weight and cholesterol is amidst the macrobiotic community in general? Any specific links I should read? It is hard for me to believe this can, in any way, be a healthy diet. What are the risks they are taking...and what, if any, are they sufferring from as a result of all this animal intake? Any statistics coming in on these people?

Any information would be greatly appreciated as I am constantly having this put in my face and want something substantial to say other than they risk gal and kidney stones....I don't even know if this is being reported as a result of the diet...

Thank you very much!!

Teri

[rizzla]

Thank you very much!!