As of now, January 2005, more than half of all north Americans
are struggling with obesity. The “quick fix” for “fat”
for the last 40+ years, becoming ever more popular, has become
the Atkins Diet. The Atkins Diet was first popularized in the
U. S. Air Force during the 1960’s.
The Atkins Diet is very simple --- restrict your carbohydrate
intake. And guess what? It actually works. But Dr. Atkins,
after the initial few years of his popularized diet, began to
make modifications and refinements to the original basic diet.
And several other people have taken the basic Atkins Diet,
modified it just a little, and come up with new and very
workable diets.
The first thing you must understand is that, across the entire
human spectrum, each of us is very different from one another
in the chemical makeup of our body. Thus, each of us,
individually, should have our own highly personalized, custom
built diet, created by a dietician using a chemical makeup
assessment, usually including a $200 hair analysis, of our
particular body type and individual nutritional needs. So far
as I know, this technology and this type dietary assessment is
still available only through certain holistic health
practitioners and it is becoming more and more expensive. As
an example, it typically costs now between $200 and $300,
whereas in the mid-1970’s it cost between $100 and $150.
There are three major misconceptions to the Atkins diet. The
first common myth is many people believe this means don’t
worry about the amount of calories or fat you eat so long as
its not carbs. The second common myth is many people believe
all carbohydrates are equally bad. The third common myth is
that the Atkins “Lo-Carb” diet is actually a
“Hi-Protein” diet. All of these, however, are enormous
misconceptions.
The first myth: many dieters who use this program
believe that calories and fat do not matter when eating low
carb food, but in some cases this has proven to be fatal.
Depending upon your particular body chemistry, when eating
high fat food your cholesterol could climb and climb, leading
to a heart attack or stroke. Also, it has now been proven that
the older we become the less our body is able to metabolize
the “high fat” portion of the Atkins “lo carb” diet,
leading to additional dietary and health problems.
The second myth: The Atkins Diet is actually a
“Lo-Carb” diet, not a “No-Carb” diet. What should be
cut out are breads, rice and potatoes. Fresh fruits and
vegetables should not be cut back and many should be somewhat
increased. Finally, after the first month you can “safely”
add breads and potatos --- in limited quantities. One friend
of mine eats 1 bite of breads/toasts, etc., served with his
meals, such as garlic breads. One bite and not a morsel more.
The third myth: Mention the Atkins Diet and most
people’s reaction is “Oh, yes, the ‘high protein’
diet.” Not true at all --- it’s a “Low Carb” diet –
protein intake remains unchanged. Some carbs only, not all,
are restricted (versus eliminated completely); fats,
particularly in older people, need to be restricted; protein
should be kept to 4-6 ounce portions per meal, the lower
values for breakfast and lunch. What you need to increase is
your intake of high-fiber foods such as celery, etc.
The reason why the Atkins Diet works is because your body
metabolizes its stored fat (carbohydrates) in order to burn
--- digest --- the protein, fiber and fat you are eating. The
Atkins Dieters tend to leave out several food groups,
including fruit and vegetables, since they are “high carb
food”, and then tend to grab a steak instead, which has very
low carbohydrates and fiber.
This is ridiculous. Why? Because the elimination of
carbohydrates and fiber, and the reduction of the fresh fruits
and vegetables, actually throws your health into a major
imbalance. Overloading your unbalanced diet by an excess of
protein intake (adding that steak, above) to “increase the
volume” to a satisfying level merely exacerbates this
imbalance.
The true danger of the Atkins Diet, however, lies in the fact
that, for people who already have health challenges, the
Atkins Diet actually worsens some conditions and creates other
health challenges that did not exist before the Atkins Diet.
The worst of these is Gout. If you have a tendency to suffer
gout, no matter how well controlled you have it, a strict
Atkins Diet will create a severe gout condition and gout
attack for you. If you merely had the tendency for gout with
no active gout, the Atkins Diet will precipitate an actual
condition of gout in your body. A severe case of gout requires
medical intervention to correct as well as long-term dietary
control and change. The long-term danger of gout is an
increased tendency for heart attack and stroke. See Native’s
Gift for one proven help for gout.
If your body type and chemical makeup is suitable for the
Atkins Diet then by all means use it. Remember that there are
several similar alternatives out there which may be more
suitable than a strict Atkins, to include some of Dr. Atkins
own later work and recommendations. If you have health
challenges, to include a tendency for gout or actually suffer
from gout, or have diabetes or any of several other disorders,
the Atkins diet is definitely something you need to avoid.
And not just the Atkins Diet. Any and all diets which highly
restrict or eliminate one of the essential food groups we all
need to maintain optimal health is equally bad. Stop the
insanity and use a REAL diet – the only proven diet which
will work for virtually everyone.
What is it? Its actually two things: A food diet and exercise
– yes, simple exercise, like walking a mile a day. A
completely balanced, restricted calorie, diet containing a
little bit of everything. Eat three meals a day, get your
sweets, carbs, veggies, fruits, juices, protein and keep it to
1200 calories a day. Eat your breakfast and go out and walk
the dog – if you don’t have one, take your neighbor’s.
Give this diet a year of your life, weigh yourself every
Monday and keep track of your weight, see where you are with
it…..and make the change for the rest of your life. When you
get to your target weight you may increase the diet to 1600
calories a day or, if you are very active – a working mason,
logger, etc. – you can increase this basic diet to 1800
calories a day.
Disclaimer:
This article in no way should be taken as “medical
advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor
does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing
any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure
for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a
source of information upon which you may base your decision as
to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral
and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a
“greens” product as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your
physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a
possible different opinion. The author does not bear any
responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your
actions based upon those decisions.
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