Atkin's Diet

[ceolstan]

Fatkins died from his own diet

As a matter of fact, he didn't. It would behoove you to check out the facts before you post.

Atkins died from complications from a fall. As a result of the hospital stay, his body was swollen from fluids. The group that claimed that he died from his diet is linked to a vegetarian organization that resents the claims behind Atkins's work. Only a few days prior to his death, Atkins had had a physical which reported him as in good shape.

Also, insofar as the science behind the Atkins diet, well, it's sound. I'm not trained to understand it all, but my sister has an advanced degree in biology and has read all the studies involved when her partner decided he wanted to go on the Atkins diet. Despite hours in the gym and running several miles every other day, he was overweight and his blood profile was atrocious. Since he was doing everything "right" and still getting nowhere, he decided to try out the Atkins as a last resort. She, alarmed at the prospect of his eating so much protein, went over the research. It was sound.

It is a myth that you can't eat carbohydrates on the Atkins diet. The diet itself is structured across several phases. The first is a two-week period in which the individual restricts carbs quite a bit. At the same time, however, the individual is to eat 2.5-3 cups of vegetables per day (amount depends on the type of vegetable). Go measure out that much vegetable and see what it looks like. The amount is huge. In fact, then, what the diet does is eliminate empty carbohydrates (ever look at the nutritional profile of bread or pasta? It's nothing to write home about) in favor of vegetables.

Once the initial two-week period is over, the individual gradually increases the amount of carbohydrates per day to find that individual's balance point: the point where the individual can maintain a healthy weight while eating a wide variety of foods.

Atkins, by the way, is not the only approach to a lower carbohydrate diet; it's just the most publicized. It's possible to be low (or lower) carb while being vegetarian, but meals tend to be based around soy and/or eggs (depends on the type of vegetarian). Since dietary cholesterol has very little effect on blood cholesterol (your body makes cholesterol more easily than it absorbs it), egg consumption is fine.

Furthermore, while Atkins may capitalize on N. Americans' preference for convenience foods by marketing their own line of products, for those of us who know how to cook and have some time to do so, it's fairly easy to cook meals without a lot of empty carbs. However, many N. Americans have little time to cook, hence the prevalence of convenience foods. all of which are expensive.

Is Atkins or any low-carb diet for everyone? Absolutely not! Each individual's metabolism is unique and will vary with age, activity, and genetic factors.

Before you launch on a diatribe, it's best to know what you're talking about.


--ceolstan