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(UK) Official: Atkins diet can be deadly
Guardian ^
| 09/21/03
| Jo Revill, health editor
Posted on 09/20/2003 4:56:31 PM PDT by Pikamax
Official: Atkins diet can be deadly
Jo Revill, health editor Sunday September 21, 2003 The Observer
The first official warning about the dangers of the Atkins diet has been issued by the Government amid concern about the rising number of people opting for the high-fat, high-protein regime. The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for all the Government's nutritional guidance, has published a statement alerting the public to the health risks of low-carbohydrate diets, including Atkins, claiming that they are linked to heart disease, cancer and even obesity.
In the past two months senior nutritionists have held talks with the Department of Health about the slimming fad and were asked to investigate the full risks of the diet.
But Ministers, who did not want to be accused of running a 'nanny state' by issuing the warning themselves, decided that it would be best if they were distanced from the advice, by letting it come from food experts.
The dangers are clearly spelt out on the agency's website, without actually naming the Atkins diet, which has been tried by more than three million people in Britain.
'Cutting out starchy foods, or any food group, can be bad for your health because you could be missing out on a range of nutrients,' the statement says. 'This type of diet also tends to be unrealistic and dull, and not palatable enough to be tolerated for a long time.'
It adds: 'High-fat diets are also associated with obesity, which is increasing in the UK. People who are obese are more likely to develop conditions such as diabetes and some cancers. Low-carb diets tend to be high in fat, too, and eating a diet that is high in fat could increase your chances of developing coronary heart disease.'
The advice, compiled in a question-and-answer style by senior nutritionist Sam Church, states that rather than trying to avoid carbohydrates, it is better to base your meals on them so they make up one-third of your diet.
But she does not include a warning about the possible risk of kidney or liver disease for anyone who spends a long time on the diet, possibly because of lack of reliable research to back such claims.
Dr Atkins' Diet Revolution toppled Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix off the number one spot during the summer; it now stands at six the UK bestseller list, having sold more than half a million copies in the past year.
Supermarkets report a surge in meat and cheese sales and a slump in pasta and rice. The price of eggs has risen by 9 per cent, bringing fears of a shortage because devotees of the diet are using the food as a way of ensuring their daily fix of protein. Some sandwich bars are also offering 'Atkins-friendly' meals, such as chicken and salad, to respond to demand and counteract the fall in sandwich sales, as bread is on the banned list.
A spokeswoman for the Atkins company argued that research showed it was consumption of large amounts of carbohydrates with a high-glycemic index, such as white bread, white rice or white potatoes, which increased the risk of coronary heart disease.
'At all stages of Atkins, we encourage consumption of nutrient-dense foods including plenty of vegetables, with the introduction of fruits and wholegrains later in the programme as one approaches ideal weight,' she added.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atkins; atkinsdiet; health; medicalestablishment; nannystate; turass
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To: SamAdams76
a "balanced" diet in line with that Kelloggs-Nabisco food pyramid? It's spelled "Archer Daniels Midland".
To: moo; SamAdams76; PianoMan; MarkL; Rightone; Harmless Teddy Bear
I bought the choc almond LeCarb awhile back. This is day three of no sugar and the cravings are strong so I pulled the container out of the freezer. It's veryyyyyyyyy good :'). Just one problem. This is four servings? I don't think so lol
To: GretchenEE
"...These people clearly did not do their "research" on what the Atkins diet is. ... "
Okay. So what exactly is meant by the term 'The Atkins Diet'?
Is it low carbohydrates or are complex carbohydrates permitted?
To: TinkersDam
It's low carb. I have been on it since March 2, 2002, a day for which I thank God regularly and bless the name of Dr. Atkins.
http://www.atkinscenter.com has the details about what carbs are useful / amounts to consume in each of the four phases of the Atkins nutritional approach (that's what Dr. Atkins preferred to call "the diet" so that people would understand it's a transformed way of eating rather than a short-term program).
Also, Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution explains what carbs / amounts of carbs per day are consumable while losing weight, and how many per day (and what kind) to use in each phase.
Personally, I have to stay under 20 grams of carbs a day (no pasta, potatoes, etc.) to lose weight. It's not difficult to do because it doesn't take a lot of food to fill me up when I eat what my body needs to keep my blood sugar under control (hypoglycemia).
104
posted on
10/21/2003 9:48:12 PM PDT
by
GretchenEE
(Liberals CANNOT be trusted with national security [excepting maybe Congr. Norm Dicks].)
To: moo
Do you have fake sugar in your ice cream? I hate that sucralose stuff! Also, once you really are off the sweets you don't need anything so sweet.
I make my own low carb ice cream: cream in a food processor with frozen berries. Yum. You can add chopped nuts or even unsweetened coconut to it afterwards.
Congrats on your lo carb business. Lo carb products are hard to find. I wish you much success. The low carb tortillas are saving my life at lunch time!! (Only 3 grams of carbs in each -- I think they are by La Tortilla and you can get them at Trader Joe's.)
105
posted on
10/21/2003 10:17:06 PM PDT
by
Yaelle
To: GretchenEE
how many calories per day?
What percentage:
protein
lipids
carbohydrates.
Does the Atkins diet in any way use the term 'carbohyrdates' to apply mainly to 'simple carbohydrates' but allow consumption of 'complex carbohydrates'?
To: TinkersDam
I typed out a big reply and my browser puked. I'll try again.
The only time calories are counted using Atkins if a person (such as I) turns out to be metabolically resistant and has to go on a special 1,000 calories a day "Fat Fast" for a few days to restart the fat-burning process, after which the dieter returns to regular Atkins. If using Atkins properly doesn't result in weight loss, he says you should look at quantities of food consumed (calories).
If Atkins defines and recommends anything concerning simple v. complex carbs, I missed it, and can't give an educated reply. He lists major foods by food groups in the back of his book and on his web site, showing the total carbs in each, and this information is what one uses to put together a balanced food selection each day. That's what I use to know how many carbs a day I can eat. (For me, that is < 20 a day.)
Snack foods like potato chips and oreos are definitely out. For life.
His web site,
http://www.atkinscenter.com, has loads of details on all this.
107
posted on
10/24/2003 6:27:48 PM PDT
by
GretchenEE
(Liberals CANNOT be trusted with national security [excepting maybe Congr. Norm Dicks].)
To: Yaelle
I use Sucralose in the LeCarb products, except plain yocarb (yogurt). Check out the products on the website. www.lecarb.net Fred.
108
posted on
10/26/2003 5:26:09 PM PST
by
moo
To: moo
Yo, Fred! I bought a carton of LeCarb milk, a tub of Yocarb, and some vanilla ice cream at Albertson's in Bedford, Texas this week. So far, they are GREAT! HIGHLY recommended!
109
posted on
11/06/2003 7:55:18 PM PST
by
SWake
("Estrada was savaged by liars and abandoned by cowards." Mark Davis, WBAP, 09/09/2003)
To: moo
I looked for your ice cream a couple weeks ago at my local supermarkets (Fred Meyer and Haagan's) but could not find it. I settled with Bryer's. It is pretty good but definately has a slightly different texture than regular ice cream. I would be really interested in your yogurt. That is one thing I really miss.
110
posted on
11/06/2003 8:11:38 PM PST
by
Crispy
To: Mr. Mojo
" My dad's cholesterol rose from 180 to 300 in one month on the Aktins diet. His doctor told him to go off it immediately, and it dropped back to 180 within 3 weeks time."
This is very strange. Almost everyone I hear about has had a big drop in cholesterol on Atkins. Are you sure he wasn't sneaking in any bread or potatoes? Maybe some people just process food differently.
111
posted on
11/06/2003 8:14:55 PM PST
by
Crispy
To: SamAdams76
I swear, this Michelob Ultra really ain't bad! (Maybe I've had a few too many)
To: Crispy
I'm not on any diet. I just know what I like, and what gives me the energy I need to get through the day.
Just a bit ago I had a big juicy 9 ounce hamburger with all the fixins. Earlier in the day it was an egg, cheese and ham sandwich. Yummy!
I'm 42 and weigh almost exactly what I did when I was 22--about 170--and I'm about 5'11'.
To: Crispy
No, he didn't cheat. But he was eating lots of bacon and sausage, which the Atkins book said to go easy on because of many people's reaction to sodium nitrate and nitrate (which those foods are chock-full of). Who knows? His doctor said that he has seen drastic jumps in cholesterol in people on Atikins before, and it was hardly unusual. My guess is that you're right, people just process food differently.
To: Mr. Mojo
nitrate and nitrate nitrate and nitrite
To: Mr. Mojo
One of the biggest problems with the sausages, kielbasa, etc., is the hidden sugars included in the meats. Sugar is taboo on the Atkins diet, especially in the induction stage, and can prevent the body from going into ketosis. Perhaps that was the reason for his cholesterol going out of control.
To: Big Bopper
Does bacon have hidden sugars as well? ...'cause that's mostly what he ate. And by "hidden" do you mean the carb content isn't listed on the packaging?
To: EternalVigilance
"I'm not on any diet. I just know what I like, and what gives me the energy I need to get through the day. Just a bit ago I had a big juicy 9 ounce hamburger with all the fixins. Earlier in the day it was an egg, cheese and ham sandwich. Yummy! I'm 42 and weigh almost exactly what I did when I was 22--about 170--and I'm about 5'11'."
Sounds healthy to me. I would do with less bread, personally, but as long as it doesn't make you fat, who cares.
118
posted on
11/07/2003 3:47:01 PM PST
by
Crispy
To: Pikamax
Socialist government agencies should never be trusted to protect the health of individuals.
119
posted on
11/07/2003 3:50:37 PM PST
by
At _War_With_Liberals
(It took Zell Miller 1 minute to say what Republicans have been afraid to say for years...)
Atkins is also being attacked by leftist groups because it has developed into a very successful corporation.
The idea of a growing corporation influencing consumers against vegetarianism drives these people nuts.
120
posted on
11/07/2003 3:54:07 PM PST
by
At _War_With_Liberals
(It took Zell Miller 1 minute to say what Republicans have been afraid to say for years...)
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