Posted on 04/09/2003 7:04:52 AM PDT by Jimmyclyde
Fad Diets
Apr 8, 2003 4:58 pm US/Eastern (WBZ) (Boston) The number is staggering. There are 127 Million overweight Americans, and now many are turning to unhealthy fad diets to lose the weight.
As WBZ's Dr. Mallika Marshall tells us, the medical community has come out with a stern warning for those seeking a quick solution to weight loss.
The message is clear, Americans trying to lose weight by eating more protein and fat while reducing carbohydrates could, in fact, be hurting themselves.
While these so-called "fad" diets may be appealing, the American College of Preventive Medicine has come out with a warning. They say, lose the weight in an un-healthy fashion, and you may also lose your health!
In a special obesity issue, this week's Journal of the American Medical Association warns that high protein diets, such as the popular Atkins diet, may not be conducive to long-term health and the dangers of such dieting remain to be seen.
Researchers also say it isn't the restriction of carbohydrates that leads to weight loss, but instead an overall reduction in total calories.
To lose weight and also reap the health benefits, researchers recommend a "balanced" diet rich in fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains. And of course, don't forget regular exercise.
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Diabetes, type two, is also epidemic among adults. The kids and grownups are eating too many Little Debbies and not enough meat, fish, and cheese. When one cuts out desserts and most breads, and sees one's triglycerides go down, that's hard to argue with.
Butter your broccoli, and lose those pounds.
It's an intereting posit--this literal kind of "starvation" may be the natural and normal state of the human creature. Would make a fascinating study, but there's no profit in studying it for anyone. It simply means that your body is burning its fat stores for fuel. It doesn't mean you're walking around hungry. As a matter of fact, I can always tell when I'm throwing ketones because I don't get hungry.
Atkins' most difficult stage is when you reach your target weight. You're supposed to add back carbs very slowly and carefully until you know exactly how many you can consume without bad effects (weight gain is only the most obvious). One bad effect, IMO, is you get your appetite running overtime again with those increased carbs. Having lived so long without a lot of carbs--you start to like the advantages, and are leery and uncomfortable adding carbs, at least for me.
The problem with Atkins for me is finding food without carbs? The LOW FAT craze has replaced protein and fat in EVERYTHING except (some meat) with carbs. I figured out I was eating like 300 carbs grams a day before I went on Atkins.
I don't think it takes a rocket-scientist to realize that Atkins is right and carbs are killing us.
My brother lost about 75 pounds on Adkins about 15 years ago. He kept it off for about five years, but has gained it all back and more. He is now about 50 pounds higher than when he started.
I still love to bake, and I need people around who can handle flour and some sugar to enjoy the things I make. But my DH, who is not on low-carb, has lost weight just eating more of the things that I happen to eat, not necessarily less of his usual diet. Atkins is a breeze for men--men can maintain many more carbs than women.
And we're doing the Omega-3 thing, eating losts of fish, to see if that helps. It doesn't look dangerous, so why not?
It was a doc that turned me on to lowcarb. Went for my physical, and my pudgy doc had buffed up. Atkins is a doc.
Docs go to the same schools and read the same journals as everyone elese, which is why they are sticking to the food pyramid for the time being. They are conservative and slow to change. And the people who run things like the American Heart Association are your typical tenured types, many of them doctors who'd do anything to escape the hard work of taking care of patients.
Lately there's been some noise about "Syndrome X" which is nothing more than a variation of Atkins. Carbohydrate Addicts is Atkins. But they don't want to give him credit because that would be admitting that they have been wrong for over thirty years.
I am firmly convinced it is. Early man did not store food. The only substantial real source of carbs during the winter was roots which have to be cooked. Cooking utensils per se (pots) have not been around that long. Man went into ketosis for months at a time! It is a natural state. That is why it feels good (all but the most extreme levels). Ketosis is a benficial state. It alleviates depression, makes you more alert, reduces hunger, gives you energy etc. All this with the side benefit of burning fat at an accelerated rate.
I have literally been in low level ketosis for months at a time.
I have never heard of anyone gaining 50 pounds while on atkin's maintenence. This is new.
maintenance is always the hardest part of any diet.
Man I am glad you are on this thread to bring some sanity back. Sheeesh people here that think man is not supposed to eat like a cow. These people want to eat meat and nutrient dense green vegetables! They don't want to follow the nutrient guidlines set by George McGovern and a bunch of democrats and vegans! What morons!
Again I appreciate your contribution to the thread. It was literally packed with pertinent info.
Thanks
Nov3
You ain't kidding. It's especially hard if you work full-time and have a long commute - if you don't feel like cooking at the end of the day, there isn't much "quick" to choose from on Atkins. (I've just started Atkins and I'm still in the "feeling lousy" stage)
When my mother was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, I had the same problem finding low-sodium foods for her. Everything canned or pre-packaged is loaded with salt.
The food industry needs a major kick in the pants. It's up to the consumer to deliver it to them.
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