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Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:47 pm  |
Hello,
I'm sure most of you have read in the news about a big study (involving around 130,000 people) that concluded that:
"A low-carbohydrate diet based on animal sources was associated with higher all-cause mortality in both men and women, whereas a vegetable-based low-carbohydrate diet was associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality rates."
This is important because in the past, one of the arguments atkins used to put fotward was that his diet reduced risk factor levels (e.g. LDL, etc.) However, reducing certain risk factors does not mean that you're actually reducing disease incidence.
In fact, previous studies had shown that the Atkins diet increased aterothrombotic factors (i.e. cardiovascular disease) but not by way of LDL and HDL.
So... what do you think? Will this affect your food choices or not really? Did this come as a surprise? |
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37, light brown hair, green eyes, very fair skin. Oily T zone, broken capillaries... Current regime: Tretinoin 0.05% every night, hydroquinone 4% twice per day, lachydran every other day, random moisturizers and sunscreen |
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Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:18 pm |
| I am honestly not surprised but I am of the mindset that your diet shouldn't be heavily based on one food group, especially one that's meat saturated. I do think eating an abundance of one type of food and not balancing your intake will lead to health issues. I think an example would be the Beverly Hills diet from many years ago very citrus heavy could cause diarrhea canker sores and in extreme cases dehydration. |
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I'LL SEE YOU ON THE DARKSIDE OF THE MOON.... |
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Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:34 pm |
| further to Josee's post, I don't know much about the Atkin's diet, but when my Biology instructor from college told me that he went on this diet years ago... he said that he lost a lot of weight, felt better, looked better, etc... but the one problem he had in the end was kidney stones... he wasn't sure if this condition was associated with the diet. In any case, with the amount of weight loss one can achieve with the Atkin's diet, I'm not too surprised to see that there are side effects to this diet as this particular diet sounds too good to be true. thanks for sharing this info, Josee. |
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Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:44 pm |
WebMD has a review of what the Atkins Diet is all about, here is a little of what you eat to lose, much more information on the link. 
http://www.webmd.com/diet/atkins-diet-what-it-is
The Atkins Diet
What Is the Atkins Diet?
Steak with Bearnaise sauce, eggs, and bacon; cheddar cheese omelets -- don't hold the yolks; Roquefort dressing and silky smooth avocado cream soup made with real cream? These rich foods are allowed as part of the controversial diet described in Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, a phenomenal best seller, and several follow-up books. |
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I'LL SEE YOU ON THE DARKSIDE OF THE MOON.... |
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Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:51 pm |
| thanks for sharing Dark Moon |
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Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:55 pm |
| Snowie wrote: |
| thanks for sharing Dark Moon |
It's amazing I know people who lost weight on the diet, but it's horribly unhealthy! |
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I'LL SEE YOU ON THE DARKSIDE OF THE MOON.... |
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Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:35 pm |
| DarkMoon wrote: |
| Snowie wrote: |
| thanks for sharing Dark Moon |
It's amazing I know people who lost weight on the diet, but it's horribly unhealthy! |
me too... I knew someone who lost 5 pounds the first week..
i read the link you posted... it sounds like the short term effects are pleasing, but maybe not so much the long term ones. |
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Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:27 pm |
I have been on Atkins Maintenance for over two years now, and am doing great. I lost fifteen pounds, and have kept it off. My blood levels are good - total cholesterol is 140, triglycerides are low, can't remember the exact level now. I am hypothyroid, so I have bloodwork twice a year, and ask my doctor to check all these levels.
Atkins is not a meat-heavy way of eating. It is low-carb, not necessarily high protein. I do have meat or fish in my main meal (usually dinner) every day, but I eat loads of vegetables with lunch and dinner every day.
Exercise is another "must" on Atkins, but then it is on most diets, isn't it?
I think that Atkins may not be suited for some people, but it's healthy for most, done properly. Anyone who is loading up exclusively on meats and fats, and not exercising, is not doing Atkins, and is asking for trouble! |
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51; dark blonde-light brown (with a lot of help!), blue-green eyes; very light skin, oily t-zone... Loving Ageless facial exercises! |
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Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:36 am |
| zephyr wrote: |
I have been on Atkins Maintenance for over two years now, and am doing great. I lost fifteen pounds, and have kept it off. My blood levels are good - total cholesterol is 140, triglycerides are low, can't remember the exact level now. I am hypothyroid, so I have bloodwork twice a year, and ask my doctor to check all these levels.
Atkins is not a meat-heavy way of eating. It is low-carb, not necessarily high protein. I do have meat or fish in my main meal (usually dinner) every day, but I eat loads of vegetables with lunch and dinner every day.
Exercise is another "must" on Atkins, but then it is on most diets, isn't it?
I think that Atkins may not be suited for some people, but it's healthy for most, done properly. Anyone who is loading up exclusively on meats and fats, and not exercising, is not doing Atkins, and is asking for trouble! |
Thanks for sharing your personal experience Zephyr and congratulations to your success and health. There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about the Atkin's diet but your input certainly helps any future individuals wanting to go on the diet to look further into the details of doing it properly.
I'm just curious to know what your doctor's thoughts on this diet was... if you don't mind me asking |
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Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:02 am |
Thank you, Snowie!
Both my internist and my endocrinologist were very supportive of my going on Atkins, especially once they saw the results. My internist, I must admit, wasn't too familiar with the diet itself, though had read many studies of its impact on health - good, for those who do it properly, and bad, for those who don't. He was curious as to what exactly I was eating and doing in the way of exercise.
My endocrinologist was "up to speed" on Atkins and was fine with it. He actually recommends a low-carb diet for many of his diabetic patients; not necessarily Atkins, but low in processed grains (the "white stuff") and highly processed foods, lots of vegetables (not potatoes), and healthy proteins. He was fascinated with my various blood lipids levels, watching them (and still watches them) over the past two-three years.
I went on Atkins, and stay on maintenance now to make a healthier way of eating a permanent lifestyle change. It's been part of a larger change for me. I was diagnosed as hypothyroid, and with some adrenal depletion several years back. I was, according to "the charts", 15 pounds overweight. I have a small frame and knew that I was closer to being 20 pounds overweight. Judging by my stomach's reactions, I thought I might be gluten-intolerant. Though I've never had high cholesterol, have low blood pressure, etc. I still did not feel good, and knew I had to make some changes. Approaching 50 does that! I was "tired of being tired", felt bloated all the time, and certainly was not happy with the way I looked. So I started this journey while back!
All the changes I've made are still evolving. Being so careful about what I'm eating has changed the way my family - especially my son - eats. My exercise started as walking back and forth to my son's school (almost a mile round-trip), then I started with 1/2 hour - 45 minutes three or four times a week on our Ellipse machine here at home. I'd like to vary that now with Pilates and some weight-lifting, but have yet to do that. A few days here and there I still struggle with exhaustion and joint pain and muscle soreness; that can be my thyroid/adrenal issues, now mixed in with menopause. Fun stuff I'm sure many of you are familiar with! I'm a busy mom and constantly have to juggle my needs (exercise and adequate sleep) with my family's needs. It's all a work in progress.
For anyone interested in doing a low-carb diet, I'd strongly recommend educating yourself on the subject first. Read Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution (I have the third edition). There are many low-carb boards and forums online. Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes is a great book about the science behind and the history of the low-carb way of eating; there's a lot that will surprise you in this book.
Again, low-carb is not for everyone and it takes commitment. I know that it works for me and my health, and I'm staying with it. |
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51; dark blonde-light brown (with a lot of help!), blue-green eyes; very light skin, oily t-zone... Loving Ageless facial exercises! |
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Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:35 am |
hi zephyr...
thanks for replying... i hope that you went out and bought yourself something nice (shoes, purse, clothes, etc...) to reward yourself for your hard work and perseverance b/c you certainly deserve it. i can't imagine how good you must feel looking back and seeing how you have progressed throughout the pass 2 years or so.
as 'Spice Girls' would have put it... you have 'GIRL POWER'!!!
I wish you continued success in improving your health. |
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Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:01 pm |
There are many flaws in that study .. Denise Minger (I cannot link to it since I'm new) has done an incredible job at disseminating the information from the study.
The biggest issue is that the lowest carb test group was consuming around 185 grams of carbs a day.
An initial Atkins dieter will go under 20 grams of carbs per day and gradually add carbs in the form of vegetables to find the point at which they stop losing weight. For many people that is well under 100 grams of carbs per day.
In short, this study has absolutely nothing to do with the Atkins diet. The media and researchers tend to lump anything low or lower carbohydrate as the Atkins diet which is functionally incorrect.
*stepping away* |
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Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:37 am |
I can appreciate all the confusion with Atkins and low carb diets. I think like everything that is successful when one changes their eating style, greatly depends on the quality of the food you eat. When my hubby and I went gluten free last year we did not go out and buy the mostly awful and expensive but highly processed GF breads. We then went grain free and ate lots of veggies, salads, and small portions of high quality wild or grass fed meats.No sugars, starches and even fruit for 4 months. What happened was we actually got used to it all (except it is always inconvenient)and my LIFE long bread and sugar cravings are gone. I really really do not miss it! First time ever, and I've cut out sugar or dairy or wheat for a few weeks here and there before. I agree that LC is not for everyone and I also think many people have to experiment with the right combos just like skin care.....
BTW 10 years ago I disparaged anything to do with Atkins.... |
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