- The pounds may fall off in the first few months but the
Atkins diet does not help people lose weight in the long term and it may
be dangerous, according to a scientific review of research.
-
- More than 45 million copies of the Atkins diet books
have been sold which recommend unlimited consumption of butter, fatty meat
and high-fat dairy products while carbohydrate intake is restricted to
under 30g (1oz) a day, equivalent to a small potato.
-
- People who follow the diet do lose weight more quickly
than on standard diets, but the weight loss is not sustained. Studies of
the diet in obese men and women showed that they lost up to 4.6kg (10.1lb)
more over six months than those who followed conventional low-calorie,
low-fat diets. But by 12 months there was no significant difference between
the two groups.
-
- Danish researchers who conducted the review, published
in The Lancet, say the diet may be safe to use in the short term - up to
six months - but that side-effects were more worrying in the long term.
-
- Arne Astrup, of the Centre of Advanced Food Research
in Copenhagen, who led the study, said: "Our conclusion is a little
more liberal than the conventional medical view that the Atkins diet is
bad for you. In the short term the diet is producing a weight loss and
it is not just fluid loss - there is a loss of fat. At the same time it
is producing a beneficial effect on the blood in terms of blood pressure,
blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
-
- "All the complications of being overweight look
better on the Atkins diet and we have no real reason to say that it should
not be used in the short term for a couple of months."
-
- The likely reason for its success in promoting weight
loss was that the diet restricted food choices, in common with many other
diets, and that protein was better at satisfying hunger than fat.
-
- Professor Astrup stressed that there was little scientifically
robust evidence on the effects of the diet and new research could reveal
hidden risks. Few studies have looked at long-term risks. Those that had
been conducted showed people tended to regain their lost weight after one
year and were more likely to complain of side-effects.
-
- Professor Astrup said: "They start to suffer headaches,
muscle cramps and diarrhoea. This is consistent with a carbohydrate deficiency.
They simply do not get enough carbohydrate to supply the tissues with blood
sugar. That is why the organs start to malfunction." The minimum daily
requirement of carbohydrate for an adult is 150g a day. On the Atkins diet,
carbohydrate intake is restricted to one fifth of that level.
-
- The researchers conclude that the lack of long-term studies
means the diet cannot be recommended. They say restricting the intake of
whole grain bread and cereals, fruit and vegetables does not equal a healthy
diet and the absence of these food groups may increase the risk of heart
disease and cancer. "There is no clear evidence that Atkins-style
diets are better than any others for helping people stay slim. Although
the diet appears to promote weight loss without hunger, at least in the
short term, the long-term effects on health and disease prevention are
unknown."
-
- http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=557740
-
-
-
- Comment
- From Alfred Lehmberg
- alienview@adelphia.net
- Comment by Alan Graham (with Alfred Lehmberg)
- AlienView.net
- 9-4-4
-
- This is how *they* demonize the Atkins low-carb lifestyle.
-
- The most powerful corporations and institutions in the
world are aligned against the low-carb (Atkins' Diet) movement. *They*
will stop at nothing to keep you confused... and consuming... their ubiquitous
poisons such as sugar, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), bread, cereal,
processed snack foods, and pharmaceutical drugs.
-
- Look at just a few of the key players (*Them*) who have
an axe to grind: the "Cancer Industrial Complex," the "Heart
Disease Foundation", the "Diabetes Industry", and the newly
emerging, multifaceted, "pharmaceuticals for *troubled* children"
market -- just to name a few. And we can't leave out the HMOs, insurance
companies, the FDA, the AMA... other bloated bureaucracies like Medicare
and Medicaid, and probably most *significant*: the lobbyists for these
organizations that give us the best government regulations that... money...
can buy!
-
- ...And, if that wasn't bad enough, the untimely and *accidental*
death (?) of the low-carb *guru* Dr. Atkins has emboldened the forces of
evil, as is evidenced since his death, regarding the "knuckling under"
of Atkins Corp.. to the AMA/FDA. That knuckling under concerns the unnecessary
lowering of the guidelines for the percentage of total dietary fat...
-
- Fats in General:
-
- We -are- fat. But I mean that in a good way... it is
an absolutely essential component in the make-up and construction of every
cell in our body. It -is- the cell actually! For the optimum performance
of each and every cell, the right kinds of the different kinds of fat are
REQUIRED (in ratio or a relationship to one another), as food. Presently
this country endures a pandemic of deficiency with regard to the "right
kinds" of essential fatty acids in the everyday diet. Allowed to continue,
this pandemic contributes the lion's share of responsibility to the descending
spiral of impaired bodily cells... or, obesity, miserable illness, impaired
cognition, and early death... presently enjoyed by rank and file Americans!
Knowledge regarding essential fatty acids in (or not in!) our foods is
key to realizing optimal health, maximized intelligence, increased energy,
and an expanded quality of life!
-
- The first and most important step to effectively demonize
Atkins is to find an attractive, "extra-white," poster child
who lost weight on Atkins' diet yet had an adverse lipid profile response
and developed some kind of heart disease. Next, have the poster child
sue Atkins and ensure it makes the national news. Finally, continue with
"1/2 of the story" articles such as the above...
-
- ...It is rare that a low-carb regimen will result in
an adverse cholesterol response, but it can happen if you do most or all
of the following eight things... the ~wrong~ way:
-
- 1. If you eat only meat, cheese, and eggs... but never
consume green leafy veggies, you could have a problem especially if you
don't take supplementary Omega 3. Veggies are not only needed for the
small quantities of Omega 3, but also for the fiber, antioxidants, and
digestive enzymes.
-
- 2. As previously mentioned, Omega 3 from both plant (flax
seed, veggies) and animal (Fish oil, eggs) is vital for good health on
a high fat, low-carb diet. Omega 3 is why the Inuit can eat, exclusively,
fat and protein (no veggies) without developing heart disease.
-
- 3. Avoid HVO (Did I have to say this?) -- Trans fat is
Zero Carbs, so it does not inhibit weight loss; however, it can be a MAJOR
contributor to heart disease. I have to lay this one at Dr. Atkins' feet
-- in subsequent publications he emphasizes the dangers of trans-fat (HVO),
but in his initial book he does not, and in fact recommends commercially
processed fried pork rinds (likely fried in HVO) as a zero carb snack.
See #6 below, ref. vicious free radicals in pork rinds. If you want something
fried, you have to do it at home with olive/macadamia/coconut oils, or
real butter. Remember, all processed or fast foods (that contain fat) very
likely use HVO. For example "Hardees" uses HVO in its new "low-carb"
breakfast bowl!
-
- 4. Avoid poly-unsaturated food oil (soy, corn, safflower,
cottonseed, grapeseed, peanut, and yes... EVEN canola at 38% poly!) Always
use mono-unsat oils like olive or macadamia nut oil. Poly-unsat oils are
Zero carbs so they also do not inhibit weight loss; however, they too are
a major contributor to heart disease (see FAT FACTS http://www.alienview.net/zfat.html
). If you ask a Subway employee what kind of oils they use on their salads,
99% of the time they will say olive oil. If you, then, have them read
the container label they will see that it ~is~ 10% olive oil... but then
90% *evil* Canola oil. We are inundated with too much Omega 6 poly-unsat
food oils. For example, commercial meat is corn fed making it high in
poly Omega 6, as opposed to grass fed (free range) meat -- high in poly
Omega 3. Also, the cheapest grocery store eggs are high in Omega 6 as
a result of being corn fed. The slightly more expensive cage free or free
range eggs are high in Omega 3.
-
- 5. Try to limit processed or cured meats like bacon,
sausage, pepperoni, salami... etc. Use as much fresh meat as possible.
Overuse of processed meats can contribute to heart disease and cancer for
numerous reasons to include the following:
-
- a. They create and contain free radicals.
- b. They contain unhealthful additives.
- c. The protein is highly denatured and the cholesterol
is damaged. Processed protein foods like powdered eggs/milk in particular
have very damaged cholesterol.
-
- 6. Avoid burnt or well done meat or eggs. Burnt animal
fat has Zero carbs... but creates a particularly DANGEROUS free radical
called heterocyclic amines (HCA). Fried pork rinds probably have the highest
amount of HCA of any food. The most healthful way to cook meat is "liquid
cooking" -- stews, soups, and pot roasts. Also, that 20 year old
wedding present that you never use... the lowly crock-pot, is a great way
to cook with moisture, thus avoiding free radicals that attack your heart
and every cell in your body.
-
- 7. Avoid carbonated drinks, antacids, and calcium carbonate
-- they destroy valuable stomach acid needed for the proper digestion of
fats and proteins (undigested protein in particular can adversely effect
your heart, immune system, and general health). See LivingTree Root #002
at http://www.alienview.net/ALLT1.html ... "The Antacid Myth."
-
- 8. Avoid distilled and tap water -- always use reverse
osmosis water. Tap water is toxic (this should be old news, so I won't
explain why it's toxic). Distilled water has two major problems -- firstly,
distilled water has no trace minerals so it will leach minerals right out
of your bones and tissue. This is why a long distance runner who sweats
out lots of minerals, then drinks distilled water (thinking it's more healthful),
and doesn't take a trace mineral supplement... drops dead from heart failure
at 55 or 60...., secondly, distilled water in plastic bottles from the
grocery store usually has a pH of about 5 (too acidic!). This also causes
your body to leach minerals from your bones to correct the acidic/alkaline
imbalance condition.
-
- I would bet money that the guy suing Atkins did most
or all of these things wrong -- so don't you make the same mistakes. And
yes -- if you do most of these things correctly most of the time, you ~can~
eat a half pound of bacon with eggs, every Sunday morning, and feel good
about it!
-
- Who -are- we? ( From FAT FACTS -- www.alienview.net/zfat.html
)
-
- I have explained the science behind the "the way
it is"; however, to understand why it -is- that way you must understand
who -we- are. Genetically and physiologically we are not -anything- that
modern homo Sapien Sapien was or is subjected to. Nothing we've done for
tens of thousands of years has had any appreciable influence on our genetic
make-up. Who we -really- are is early homo Erectus and homo Habilis (the
not-so-erect guy who preceded Erectus...).
-
- For the first million or so years of evolution you and
I were hunter-gatherers on the African plains, initially concentrated around
the Great Rift. Whatever homo Erectus did to -his- body we should try
to do the same. I realize he had to walk long distances in search of food,
whereas we can just drive to the market; however, what this means is that
we also should walk, jog, and exercise every day, even though we think
we don't have to. Also, I'm sure that every month, or so, Erectus had
to go a few days without eating because hunting and scavenging can be a
hit or miss endeavor.
-
- Again, what -this- means is that -we- would be a lot
healthier if -we- would fast one or two days every month, even though we
don't have to. Fasting detoxifies the body, gives our liver and digestive
tract a rest, and if you periodically (like maybe every six months) fast
(intelligently!) four or five consecutive days, your body will actually
switch into "repair-mode" and accelerate the healing of damaged
tissue and organs.
-
- You see, Erectus did not have a choice in these matters,
but you do. If you choose to take full advantage of all modern life has
to offer by never exercising, eating man-made toxic garbage, and ignoring
your toxic environment as you surround yourself with it, then don't sit
there wondering why you are so sick and miserable all of the freaking time!
-
- Let's look at the evolution of homo Erectus. If you
don't believe in evolution, just stick in "Adam and Eve" instead
of "homo Erectus" because most of my conclusions would still
be applicable. This is because, as far as I can tell, Adam and Eve started
out on square one with no technology. In other words, they were hunter/gatherers:
-
- Did he consume saturated fat? Yes, he did. He would
risk his life to chase a big cat away from a carcass. He would also eat
coconuts.
-
- Did he consume hydrogenated vegetable oil. NO! HVO
was invented by modern man, and being a non-food, our liver is revolted
by it.
-
- Did he consume massive quantities of poly unsaturated
cooking oil. NO. He got all of the omega 6 he needed in seeds, nuts, and
legumes grown in soil rich in all the trace minerals.
-
- Did he consume Omega 3 fatty acids. Yes he did. Early
man first appeared on the shores of the Great African Rift, which at the
time was a huge warm inlet sea. So, for most of his early development,
he existed by scavenging the shallows and tide pools where he had a fairly
steady diet of quality protein from sea food rich in Omega 3. These brain
foods like EPA, DHA, and AA contributed to early man's big brain development.
-
- Did his water and food contain all 70+ trace elements.
Yes, it did. Today; however, because of over- farming, the land has been
leached of many trace minerals. Dieticians/doctors will tell you we are
not mineral deficient. However, pick any one of several web sites that
show mineral composition of the soil in various parts of the country, and
see for yourself.
-
- Did he consume eggs? Yes, he did. He ate every egg
that he could get his hairy hands on. The egg is one of mother nature's
most bio-available, highly digestible, nutrient rich, prepackaged little
food nuggets imaginable. Additionally! Egg protein is even superior to
fish protein!
-
- Did he consume carbonated soda? NO! Sodas are an evil
scourge -- they leach minerals from bones and destroy valuable stomach
acid, causing undigested food to play havoc with your gut which can result
in a plethora of diseases!
-
- Did he consume Tums, Prevacid, Tagamint, or Nexium.
NO! Contrary to what doctors tell you and what pop culture reflects, we
do not have an epidemic of too much stomach acid! In fact, quite the opposite
is true, especially the older we get (75% of the people over 50 have too
little stomach acid). I want to scream every time I hear a doctor advise
that TUMS is a good source of calcium! Antacids are generally calcium carbonate.
This is a form that is difficult to assimilate because the carbonate destroys
stomach acid which is required to absorb the calcium. Also, inorganic
salts like carbonate, oxide, and phosphate are the wrong electrical charge
for good absorption.
-
- Did he consume burnt animal fat -- NO! Cooking food
did not appear until much later. the first couple of million years or
so early humans ate everything raw! Today it would not be practical or
safe to eat raw meat; however, you should not overcook -any- form of food
-- in particular extra well done fried or charbroiled meat creates one
of the most dangerous of the free radicals (hetero cyclic amines).
-
- Did he grind wheat and bake bread? NO! Bread making
did not appear until the Sumerians. Our modern diet, heavy in refined
carbos, is a major cause of our health problems. Again, the vindication
of the Atkin's diet indicates this. Additionally, at the very start of
the 21st Century a new free radical was discovered called acrylamites.
This ubiquitous toxin is created when the surface area of carbohydrate
foods are heated enough to turn them toasty brown. Things like bread crust,
crackers, potato-chips, french-fries and cereals (imagine how much toasted
surface area is in a bowel of cornflakes or the "Breakfast of Champions."
Eat toast and you ARE toast!
-
- Did he consume milk and dairy? NO to the nth! Almost
every variety of human on Earth, except Caucasians, has an intolerance
to dairy. And even among us Anglo Saxons there is a high percentage of
lactose intolerance. Milk is an unhealthy and ineffective way to try and
get calcium. We would be amazed at how many health problems in children
(like allergies, rashes, ear infections, coughs/colds and other respiratory
problems) would just disappear if we took away the milk, sugar, and cereal
and replaced it with eggs, meat, and vegetables.
-
- Did he consume refined sugar. NO! If you just can't
live without sugar, at least use a low glycemic fructose. If you are a
parent, and you let a doctor put your child on Ritalin without first exploring
a sugar free diet, then, after they are put on Ritalin you continue to
let them have cokes, pop tarts, and sugar smacks... there is likely a special
place in hell just for you!
-
- Did he consume caffeine and alcohol. No, I'm afraid
not. Though, a glass of dry, dark red wine, every night, is very healthful.
It's high in anti-oxidants, raises HDL, and aids digestion. Moreover,
if you do all of the healthful things we have discussed, things like avoiding
all sugar and foods processed by insentient man, then I think you may -deserve-
a cup of coffee.
-
- Do it! But do it ~right~. Done right you won't HAVE
bad lipid profiles, the hazards disappear, and a new healthiness ~can~
be yours.
-
- www.alienview.net
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