Beef Vs. Bagels: Food Companies Take on Dr. Atkins

Reuters Science via Yahoo ^ | 3-16-03 | Carey Gillam

[Pharmboy]

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (Reuters) - It has been months since Tina Moore last bit into a bagel or a slice of toast.

"Protein is good. Carbs are bad," says 41-year-old Moore, who altered her diet five years ago in a bid to lose weight.

Moore, the owner of a hair salon, is one of the estimated 15 million-plus Americans seen as devoted followers of dieting guru, Dr. Robert Atkins, who recommends eating protein for those who want to rid themselves of unwanted weight and keep the pounds off.

"Carbs and sugar ... they give you a quick high, then you get really low. You get tired and hungry," said Moore, who sees herself as a reformed "carbohydrate addict."

The hamburger patty is good, the hamburger bun bad, according to the teachings of Atkins, who has turned his philosophies into a dieting revolution, starting with his first book, "Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution," in 1972.

Atkins books -- his latest, "Atkins for Life," was published this year -- routinely top best-seller lists. Atkins companies have racked up millions of dollars in sales of specialty low-carb food products and carb-counting scales.

But the popularity of Atkins' eating advice, now appealing to another generation, is fraying the nerves of some food companies who rely on the consumer appetite for carbohydrate-laden foods such as pastas and pizzas, cakes, cookies and cereals, to add heft to their own bottom lines.

They claim Atkins is falsely disparaging food groups that serve as a foundation for American eating. And that by teaching people to severely limit the use of flour-based products, Atkins is eating into sales of some bread and cereal products in the United States.

"Our industry has to do something, and soon. It is starting to become a mainstream belief that carbohydrates are bad," said Judi Adams, director of the Wheat Foods Council, a consortium of industry players that includes ConAgra, General Mills and Kellogg Co.

"This Atkins diet -- or, I call it Fatkins diet -- is going out unchallenged. People are starting to believe it," Adams said.

Part of the consortium's push will be in Washington, where federal health officials are starting talks on revisions to the nation's 11-year-old Food Guide Pyramid.

Wheat Foods will be actively involved in defending the grains, Adams said.

Currently, the pyramid puts bread, cereals, rice and pasta as the foundation for healthy eating, recommending six to 11 servings a day. But some are pushing for changes that would move grains off the foundation, and cut back servings.

SLIM PICKINS

There is limited funding for the anti-Atkins campaign, as most food companies spend their advertising dollars on product specific programs to tout such things as new Berry-Burst Cheerios, recently released by General Mills.

So, with only a slender budget to try to counter the Atkins phenomenon, the Wheat Foods Council is aiming its "educational" campaign" at nutritionists and the medical community.

The strategy is a direct attack on Atkins: Americans who follow the Atkins diet increase their risk of health problems that include cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, kidney damage and some cancers, the Wheat Foods Council says.

Adding insult to injury, it claims that Atkins followers can also suffer headaches, constipation and bad breath.

The council says obesity is not specifically tied to carbohydrates but is the simple result of lazy overeaters.

"Healthful grain-based foods have become the scapegoat for weight gain, when overeating and underexercising are at issue," said Carol Pratt, a Kellogg nutrition and regulatory affairs expert, and incoming chairwoman for Wheat Foods.

FEWER COOKIES AND CAKES

Consumer eating habits are hard to track, but the latest Consumer Expenditure Survey of the U.S. Department of Labor does indicate a possible shift away from grain-based foods.

According to the government survey, consumer spending in 2001 for ready-to-eat and cooked cereals, pasta, flour, flour mixes and bakery products dropped from the previous year even as consumer spending for meat, poultry, fish and eggs and other similar products increased for the third year in a row.

Moreover, the 0.2 percent decrease in spending came as the consumer price index (news - web sites) for those foods grew 2.9 percent. As well, wheat consumption in the United States dropped 4 percent from 1997 to 2001, according to industry research.

"I'm very much concerned," said Mark Dirkes, spokesman for Interstate Bakeries, the nation's largest wholesale baker and the maker of Wonder Bread. "He (Atkins) has run a very effective campaign. That just can't be good for our industry."

CLEANING OUT THE CABINETS

Among Atkins preachings: the elimination of "white flour-laden junk food" from kitchen cabinets, and research that Atkins says shows carbohydrates work to slow the body's burning of fat and make people feel hungrier faster.

And after decades of rejecting Atkins' theories, some new scientific research studies, including work by Harvard University, have started lending credence to Atkins' ideas.

Colette Heimowitz, director of research at the Atkins Health and Medical Information Services says over-consumption of bread, cereal and baked products is partly to blame for overweight Americans. Products made with white flour, sugars and hydrogenated oils are the worst.

Still, she says, Atkins is not looking to go to war with the food companies, and that even Atkins die-hards allow for an occasional doughnut or cookie.

"We teach people how to respect it and, on rare occasions, have it in moderation," she said. "We know people can't stay away from it forever."

[TruthNtegrity]

I have been hypothyroid all my life, and this was exacerbated after thyroid surgery in 1975. Those Buster Brown shoes - fluorscoping my feet as a kid, I'm thinking. Anyway, it's always been a b!tch for me to lose weight, and back when I was getting married, went on the liquid protein thing, fainted every Friday evening, but got married when I was thin. I'm guessing I'm one of the lucky ones who didn't die from heart attacks from low potassium on that stupid fad diet.

Jan. 2002, I made a New Year's resolution - lose weight. Read Atkins, happily ate my weigh (pun intended) through 101 pounds of weight-loss for 2002, and am now happily heading toward the final 30! My cholesterol and triglycerides are lower than when I started - and to boot, my Doctor has helped me with my thyroid level, putting me on Cytomel after we discovered I just don't convert Synthroid (T4) into T3. So, now I take a combination of both, and am no longer tired, cranky and COLD all of the time.

I've tried to convince two fat friends, one of whom has been diabetic for years, and the other finally tripped over the edge into Type II last year, that they have got to consider doing Atkins. They both argue that "ketones are dangerous to diabetics" - no matter how many times I copy the section from "The New Atkins Diet Revolution" and how this is simply not true. But, I'm sure, preferring to stay fat and eat whatever they want, they refuse to be educated. I don't spend much time around the one who lives near me - since she's only gaining weight and I can't stand it.

For those who think that eating high protein and fat raises their cholesterol and triglycerides, I throw down this challenge. Have the tests done now, go on Atkins for 3 months, have them done again - and learn the truth.

And then admit how much weight you've lost in the process!

And here the absolute bonus. You'll NEVER, EVER be hungry!
Man, they ought to emphasize this part. I have suffered the most awesome hunger, trying to get my weight down. Times when you could lock me in a room, and I'd swear that I'd eat the darn wallpaper! Times when I've been on expensive (and yes, dangerous) appetite suppresants. But with Atkins, I'm satisfied all the time, and if I'm "hungry" - I know it's emotional and stop and think about what is "eating me" that I haven't dealt with in an appropriate manner. I will not allow myself to eat to 'solve' some hurt or difficulty.

I'm on Atkins for life - and happy about it, thank you very much. My goal for this Summer is to wear a two-piece bathing suit and I'm working on making that happen.

One more thing - I'm convinced that this diet also helps the skin shrink right along with you. Maybe it's the fat content, but my skin never gets dry, and I haven't had to stop for some period of time, to allow my body to readjust. With all the weight I've lost, the skin has gone right down with me.

See ya' on the beach!!! I'll be the one in the bright green two-piece bathing suit - with the long red hair and green eyes! Ta!

[Mr. Lucky]

82 grams of crabs in one serving

Holy Moly! That's comparable to a fifty cent whorehouse in Manilla.

[Jim Noble]

I agree that Atkins is basically right.

He's made a lot of enemies because he didn't do any research. The fact that he didn't do any research has left the questions about long-term metabolic consequences of "Atkins-like" diets open, when it could have been answered by 1975.

However, like a lot of other advances, the basic "CHO-insulin push-fat deposition" idea as the result of Atkins' flash insight in 1965 is almost certainly correct.

[VOA]

"This Atkins diet -- or, I call it Fatkins diet -- is going out unchallenged.
People are starting to believe it," Adams said.

What planet has this Adams person been on for the last couple of decades?

Atkins has simply outlasted a bunch of jealous name-callers and is now being vindicated.

"Fatkins diet"? I think this is the sort of high-brow comment/analysis we'll get from the
future "Liberal Rush Limbaugh", when the Democrats find him/her/it.

[Pharmboy]

And Jim, from an evolutionary point of view, hunter-gatherers just could NOT ingest that much concentrated carbs; we could only do it when we became agriculturalists a mere 15,000 years ago. We are not built for such high carbo diets as eaten today.

[Zipporah]

I believed the same thing as you.. that it is a matter of calories.. but since have found out that when carbs are ingested the insulin levels spike turning what we do eat into fat.. if I eat ever eat carbs I first eat protein slowing down the digestion of carbs.. This has been the ONLY way I have controlled my weight. AND I don't count calories. I fell for the low fat ..high carb diet and what happened? I gained weight even though my caloric intake was lower.. muscles burn fat for fuel.. carbs it seems causes body fat ..

[big bad easter bunny]

My 14 dat average 111, my first blood sugar ever taken was 465 although I did have a pretty serious infection that day. None of my "healthy firends" can keep up with me. I will be starting my own low carb cooking show in a couple of months. Here is a sample video:

Low Carb Scallop Dish

[big bad easter bunny]

Fat can only be gained by excess calories, you can get fat by eating to many of all types of calories(fat,protein and carbs). Your muscles use Glucose for energy no matter what the original source. The nice thing is mucles need calories all the time, fat just hangs around waiting to be used and doesn't really burn any calories to exist.

[justshe]

We are not built for such high carbo diets as eaten today.

---

The increase in the number of Celiacs or Gluten-Intolerants in this country FINALLY being identified, supports this statement. In Europe, gluten sensitivity is a test commonly administered. In the United States, it is hypothesized that 1 in 200 suffer some degree of gluten intolerance due, in part, to the 'milling' techniques started back during the early 1900's.

[Paul_B]

Perhaps a link with a summary explanation would do as well. Just a suggestion.

[Inspectorette]

Would love to find low carb breads.

I found low-carb bread at the health food store. It's only 4 carbs a slice, and it's pretty tasty. The slices aren't as big as a slice of regular bread, but it does fill that void. The brand name is Good Life.

[uncbob]

Thing is cutting out the carbs in cookies, cakes, doughnuts, pies, potato chips, nachos, corn chips, cheetos,sticky buns, etc etc You are also cutting out a hell of a lot of HYDROGENIZED FATS

[Lanza]

HEB grocery has low carb tortillas that are wonderful. After fiber is taken out, they are only 3 carbs. They have a green onion flavored one. Excellent.

Atkins is the only way I have ever lost weight. I started in 1997, lost 25 pounds, and have kept it off until this past year (started eating major carbs and junk again and crept up 15 pounds). I am back on and lost 5 pounds the first week. Ten more to go.

My energy level goes through the roof on Atkins too.

[SauronOfMordor]

Cutting carbs from my diet has gotten rid of my hypoglycemic episodes, boosted my endurance, and trimmed me downed to the correct weight for my height and frame. My blood work is great. I don't have headaches or bad breath.

Two years ago, my middle daughter was having trouble in first grade. She would have "episodes" of hysterical crying from time to time in the afternoons. She had behavior problems. The school wanted her on Ritalin

I took her out and started homeschooling her and started doing some research on the Web. Some of her symptoms matched those of hypoglycemia, so I made some dietary changes. Instead of carbs for breakfast (oatmeal, french toast sticks, Eggo waffles), we substituted meat protein. The problems disappeared like magic.

We're still homeschooling her, she's doing great, and no more "episodes".

As close as I can figure it out, giving her carbs causes her blood sugar to spike, followed by a crash a couple of hours later. Meat and fat, which digest slowly, keep her blood-sugar at a more even level between meals.

I'm wondering how much of the problems we're having with young school-age kids, that we're treating with drugs like Ritalin, are actually niutritional problems caused by sending kids off to school with breakfasts that are mostly flour and sugar?

[paul in cape]

AGreed on Atkins. My brother went from near 400 lbs. to 225 on atkins, lowered his cholesterol and blood pressure. He's still overwieght, but much better than what he was. I lost 20 lbs. and am holding steady, still 20 lbs. overweight, but I cheat!

I just got his new book, Atkins For Life. Many common sense programs within. I'll never go back to suger and mega-carbs.

[uncbob]

We are not built for such high carbo diets as eaten today

We ain't built for those Hi Carb/Hi Fat combinayions that we consume today

Those hi carb cakes pies cookie sticky buns potao chips nachos cheetos candy bars etc etc are also LOADED with HYDROGENIZED FATS

It is rare that foods except for booze and soda are strictly carbs

[Maximilian]

I'd appreciate any replies from everyone on this thread:

What do you think about Atkins (close to zero carbs) versus the Glycemic Index (avoid processed carbs) approaches?

I've been avoiding breads, white flour, white sugar, potatoes, etc. since last summer and have done reasonably well. Losing weight slowly, about 25 pounds so far, in about 7.5 months. But I seem to plateau for a month at a time, and wonder if I ought to go to a more radical zero-carbs approach?

Sometimes I eat steel-cut oats for breakfast, high-fiber Rye Crisp crackers for lunch, and beans and brown rice for dinner. These are relatively good on the Glycemic Index, but would be way too many carbs for Atkins.

Happy to hear anyone's feedback.

Also, I've been waiting for an Atkins thread to ask another question: Yogurt is listed as having the exact same carbs as milk. But isn't the whole point of yoghurt that the bacteria break down the lactose -- that's why it tastes sour? Anyone ever read anything on this point?

[Snerfling]

I've lost 30 lbs since the beginning of the year on Atkins.

I gotta call BS on this one. One pound is equal to 3,500 calories. To lose 30 pounds means you have to either cut out 100,000+ calories over a period of time below the basic burn rate level (2,000 calories/day for a 6' man), or accelerate the burn-rate level. Since there have been 72 days since the beginning of the year, even if you subsisted on bread/water alone (which is possible for around a month), you would have burned 140,000 calories.

[grimalkin]

I'm wondering how much of the problems we're having with young school-age kids, that we're treating with drugs like Ritalin, are actually niutritional problems caused by sending kids off to school with breakfasts that are mostly flour and sugar?

I think this may be more common that a lot of people realize. Some of these problems may also be caused by food allergies. All I know is, blood sugar crashes are *not* nice.

[need_a_screen_name]

It's not BS. You don't understand the science behind Atkins. The idea is to go into "ketosis" by restricting your carbs. Carbs stimulate the production of insulin which is what allows fat to be stored. Fat from the body is burned for fuel when in ketosis. You should go to the Atkins website and do some reading. It is not a calorie reduction diet. Here is something to think about: A person who eats nothing but a 1000 calories of fat per day will lose more weight than someone who is fasting. Odd, but true....