LETS SETTLE THIS DEBATE: Is the Atkins Diet healthy or not?

[battleknight24]

?

[shoopnyc123]

1. Fabulous, but in moderation...

[Taverner]

2. um....no way to really settle it

If you follow Atkins, some body types do really well with it.

But some body types respond better to simple calorie reduction.

[WindRavenX]

21. good answer

There is no "one size fits all" diet (pardon the poor pun), and so the simple answer is that in moderation, some people will respond fabulously to Atkins; for me personally, I would die- I use low-cal options and walk.
Everyone is different and I hate these flame wars because I've seen a lot assumptions from everybody that their plan is the only right plan and that it works well for everyone. It doesn't.
To each his or her own!

[childslibrarian]

3. No-- the healthy part is the low glycemic aspect of the diet

But high fat is not healthy. Read "The Glucose Revolution" to get the healthy story.

[serryjw]

42. Absolutely CORRECT!

We have a country of type 2 diabetis.......SUGAR is our death..you need carbs....as long as they are SLOW carbs...our you will crash!

[sangh0]

4. For a short time, it's OK

If you have a definite number you want to drop, go ahead. But it's not a "diet" in the sense that a diet is what you eat day in and day out.

[Trajan]

5. Im with Sango ...

Ok in the sort term .. disatrous in the long term ....

SB is better .... for life ....

[LeftyChristian]

57. Yeah South Beach!

My wife was a nutrition minor and any diet that would force your body into "survival mode" is probably not to safe over the long haul.

South Beach gradually reintroduces "good" carbs in Phase II.

[Nikia]

6. Unhealthy for some people

It is best for otherwise healthy people who are overweight to mildly obese who are having trouble loosing weight by calorie reduction and who don't exercise strenuously. It is unhealthy for people with any kind of organ problems or athletes.

[olddem43]

7. Very healthy for Heart Surgeons'

banks accounts. What could be better than all the fat and grease you can eat? Even the creator of this diet croaked.

[shraby]

8. My Mom is 80 and she went on it

and lost 50 pounds and is able to keep it off by kinda staying on it.

[skjpm]

9. I like the SB Diet better

I was on Atkins for awhile. I like the idea of whole foods and "good carbs" better. I haven't had anything processed now for several weeks, but I do eat whole grains. I'm not losing weight as fast, but I feel better. And they let you have thin crust pizza.

[GingerSnaps]

11. What's the difference between the SB & Atkins diet

?

[NeoConsSuck]

53. In a nutshell, SB allows more carbs (healthy carbs)

[Snow]

13. The creator of the diet croaked from a car crash....

hadn't heard that could be caused by low-carb diets.

[poliguru]

17. No he didn't

He fell on ice and suffered severe head trauma.

[Snow]

18. Ooops, sorry - thanks.

[Dookus]

16. he died

after slipping on the ice and hitting his head. I don't think that was diet related.

What a silly argument that won't die - the notion that the diet is bad because the inventor died (at an advanced age, btw).

[GingerSnaps]

10. I started it two days ago

I just spent $50.00 on low carb milk and snacks and I hope that I can take a few inches off.

[poliguru]

12. No it is NOT

My husband is a doctor and goes nuts whenever people talk about the Atkins diet. Ultimately, what catagory of food you put in your body matters not when it comes to losing weight - it's all about the number of calories. 500 calories from protein and 500 calories from carbs read pretty much the same as far as your body is concerned. While the low-carb diet does slightly change your metabolism, what you're mainly losing is water weight. That's why most people see such quick results. But the weight doesn't continue to drop at that rate (you can only lose so much water weight). You can achieve the same metabolic rate change from walking a bit every day or doing other slight exercise. That's how little it matters. On the down side, high protein diets are risky in that they are much more likely to cause heart disease, strokes, etc. And complex carbs are the healthiest form of energy for your body.

Some people DO eat too many carbs - for those people, they will probably feel better following Atkins - at first. But if you eat a healthy, moderate diet following the national dietary recommendations (you know, so many servings of veggies, starches, etc.) and get regular exercise, you will be at a healthy weight for you. It will be somewhat slower, but you'll live longer.

To briefly summarize, then - DON'T ATKINS!!!!!!!!!

[nini]

14. depends on the person.

and how their body works.

Most people are ok on it and their cholesterol actually drops and blood work in general improves.


Then there are some that it doesn't work for them and their cholestoral goes up.


Each person needs to determine it for themselves.


Everyone needs to drink a lot of water on the diet though.. it's more critical on this diet than most.

[curse10]

15. In my opinion? No.

I think it's disgusting. But that's just me.

[DS1]

19. We've already done this

14 times.

[ThoughtCriminal]

20. Atkins Diet reminds me of Tax Cuts

Sure, you can eat lots of fat and lose weight, and we can have tax cuts for the rich, huge budgets and cut the debt. Have it all with no sacrifice! Forget long term consequences.

[curse10]

26. very good analogy!

:hi:

[ellie]

22. I was on it

but had no energy at all. But if you go to their website and read the success stories, some people do great on it. Some of the stories are phenomenal; people losing 100s of pounds. So I think it depends on the person. Watch your calorie intake and when the time is right, add back complex carbs. Good luck!

[Darth_Kitten]

23. All that protein cannot be easy on the kidneys or liver......

:( Best way to lose weight? EXERCISE!!!!! :D

[Beaverhausen]

25. Exercise and cut calories

I'm doing both and I'm slowly and steadily losing. I'm pretty much changing my lifestyle as a whole.

It's simple math really...eat fewer calories than you burn in a day and you will lose.

[Darth_Kitten]

29. I have to get into some kind of exercise program......

I'm not good at cutting calories..... :) Besides, I want to slenderize a bit and get more energized, I'm such a couch potato lately. :)

[Beaverhausen]

62. I power walk with a couple of friends

I'm not a gym person at all. But walking is really great.

I'm lucky to live near a park with trails. It's great to have someone else to keep you motivated. After a couple of months it really became a habit and I really feel so much better. I also walk by myself and listen to books on tape.

[jpgray]

24. Better than the shit most Americans eat, far worse than a healthy balance

The studies that say blood pressure and the like improve on Atkins as compared to an 'average' (read: unhealthy) diet are not conducted over a significant period of time, and are not compared with a competing health diet using a more balanced group of foods. Americans eat too many junky foods, and carbohydrates are all digested and turned into fat--if Americans would learn to eat healthy carbohydrates and MODERATE their gargantuan portion-sizes, they would not gain weight. Note that in Italy the obesity rate is 6.8% while here it is almost over 50%. They eat carbs in Italy, let me tell you.

The worse problem is those who don't follow the diet properly. The diet isn't very healthy in the first place, but those who just cut carbs and gorge on fatty meats--wrecking their kidneys, liver and heart in the process--are a side-effect of villifying carbs.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

27. Heh. Good carbs are nothing to fear.

The Atkins diet is faulty because it cuts out all carbs, not distinguishing between whole grain carbohydrates and processed carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are important, especially if you work out. With carbs, your energy is increased ten-fold... Protein is great for post-working out, but it's carbs that will stimulate your muscles for the next work out. Also Atkins doesn't distinguish between good meats and bad meats. There are lots of unhealthy cuts of meat out there, though I don't know too much about that (because i'm a vegetarian). My sources of protein come from peanuts and legumes.

I think there's no quick fix to losing weight. Portions need to be cut, and things need to be eliminated, however, Atkins doesn't encourage healthy eating habits at all. You cannot live on meat, it seems like a ridiculous concept to me- but i'm sure cardiac doctors LOVE it (like their wallets do...).

[LynneSin]

31. IT DOES NOT CUT OUT ALL CARBS

:grr: :grr: :grr:

Most people who do Atkins, like myself, are carb addicts - the bad kind. Atkins is setup that you cleanse your body out for 2 weeks of your junk carb habit and then after 2 weeks you start adding the healthy carbs back into the diet. I'm an Atkins dieter and I eat fruits, veggies, grains and the work, but I usually stick to the healthier stuff. I've also been on the diet for about 8 months and I lost 30lbs (I've slowed down with my weight loss because now it's a matter of focusing on excercise)

I never ate heavy amounts of fattening meats. I'm mainly a chicken/pork/fish kinda gal when I do eat meats. I ate plenty of veggies during my first 2 weeks but I didn't add fruits in until about week 4 (by then I really wanted them).

As a carb addict, I don't process carbs the way healthy eaters process them. My poor pancreas is so out of wack from all those processed foods that I'm sure I'm borderline diabetic (but I'm not - doctor said so).

Atkins can be a very successful program but you need to read the book and work with your doctor. That combination can be very successful and extremely healthy!

[SarahB]

32. Yep

:thumbsup: Same here. For me, I've been stuck ten pounds from my goal for a long time (like 9 months or so), but I got lazier about the exercise, but now I'm upping it again, so hopefully I can finally hit my goal soon. It shouldn't be a problem. Two years ago, I was up to a size 18, now I can fit into most 8's. My cholesterol dropped 100 points too. My level of energy and emotional strength is a 1000 times better.

I eat lots of veggies, meats, soy, cheese, nuts, some whole grains and some fruits. It is so easy for me and I maintain without issue even if I cheat once in awhile. It broke my addiction and as long as I stay conscious of it, I easily maintain my weight.

I also think, if you look at hunter-gatherer cultures in an anthropological sense, this is closer to what they ate. This encompassed more than 95% of human history. Ancient humans were omnivores who ate lots of leafy greens, nuts, berries, and fresh meats and fish primarily. (Kind of sounds a bit Atkins-y to me :think:.)

Keep up the good work, Lynne!

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

39. Any diet that cuts out fruits, for any period of time

Gets a no vote from me. Yes, they are high in sugar, but these sugars are natural and necessary.

Sorry. I lost 35 pounds without even cutting carbs. I never ate sweets, I never ate any kinds of crap. I don't eat meat. I eat virtually nothing. I was just heavy because I ate too many carbs, maybe a carb addict as you say... So I cut them down portion wise and lost weight. There's no reason to eliminate carbs from your diet, ESPECIALLY if you're exercising. When I don't eat carbs, I feel sluggish all day long. It may be different for people who eat regular amounts of meat, but I feel like protein doesn't satisfy me as much as I need to get through a day. Everyone's going to lose weight differently, obviously, but I just worry that this diet causes more problems than it helps. What are the side effects of eating so much meat(besides the initial weight loss)? High cholesterol? Blood pressure? You may be able to eat the healthier meats- but it doesn't mean other Atkins dieters do/will. It should be identified more clearly which meats are better to eat on the Atkins diet. :shrug: I'm not bashing anyone's diet, but I feel like these questions haven't been answered.

[greeneyedpookie]

28. Here is my story

It has it's ups and downs. I first started the diet back in Aug. of last year. Within the first month, I lost 25lbs. Then I met my now husband. He understood what I was doing and let me continue for about 2 more months where I lost 30lbs more. Then he turned me onto herbal supplements and organic eating. At that time I was adding in pasta, rice, potatoes, and bread. After that I still lost 20lbs more. Between the time period of Aug. through Feb., I had lost a total of 70lbs. I still eat the pasta, rice, etc. and have finally hit a medium. I know weigh 140lbs. (compared to the 210 I started out at!) and have gone back and forth 5lbs (depending on the time of the month, sorry guys!) Never have felt better in my 28 years and got married in a beautiful size 12 wedding dress, even though I wear a size 9-10 (wedding dresses are sized different, I found out!) I will continue to eat this way until the day I meet the one and only. The eating organic even helped out my daughter who was 15lbs over weight. She lost her weight by changing her eating habits, she is now a 4'4" 7 year old girl weighing 75lbs and looking good. Atkins is a good way to start out, but eating organic will make you not only get you at the weight you want to be (by my experience) however feeling healthier also.

GEP

:bounce:

[LynneSin]

30. YES - if you read the damn book and follow the damn program

Because some people think that they will just cut out all carbs forever including healthy carbs like fruits & veggies.

The program, as it is written in the book, says that you cut down to 20grams of carbs for 2 weeks (which leaves room for most veggies) and then after 2 weeks you gradually start adding in the other healthy carbs like fruit, grains, etcs.

It does not say you should slaughter and eat a pig every day for your meals. In fact the meat that I ate during the program was usually a hard-boiled egg for breakfast, grilled chicken on my large green salad for lunch and a piece of chicen, fish or pork for dinner. Along with my big salad, I usually had a side of veggies for dinner (this is during the 20gram carb phase).

Atkins is bad for you when you ignore what the book says and just decide to cut out all carbs and call it your "Atkins Diet" I'll put $20 that those people probably own the book but never read much of it past the first few pages.

[SarahB]

33. Can I say "Yep" again?

People think Atkins is about eating bacon and sticks of butter for food. It isn't. It stresses healthy meats and fish (especially that which is high in healthy Omega 3's) and lots and lots of vegetables. People who have never read the books have some sort of skewed point of view. (In my opinion the Food Pyramid was bought by processed food companies that can make big easy bucks of cheap carbohydrate laden foods, but hey that's just my little conspiracy theorist opinion. Two years ago, my doctor said, "Be careful. Don't so it." Now with my weight gone and maintained and my bloodwork being perfect, I'm told, "Keep up whatever you're doing."
Frequently people judge Atkins so harshly without any knowledge about it that I just say, "I don't eat sugar or white flour", which basically now is where I'm at and it seems to shut them up without much controversy. :eyes:

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

40. But that's what YOU specifically chose to ate...

I guess I want to ask you if there is specific guidelines that Atkins dieters follow when choosing which meats to eat for certain meals. I don't know *that* much about it, and I'm trying to get your point of view before totally discounting it.

[GingerSnaps]

41. Your so funny

I remember an infomercial on Atkins years ago where people were frying up bacon and eating huge cheeseburgers fried in butter.

I started Atkins 3 days ago and I make a mistake by eating 1/2 cup of raspberries today with some of that fake milk Atkins milk on them.

I eat too much cheese and that is my problem on Atkins.

[onebigbadwulf]

34. Not healthy but only because it promotes...

...high fat high cholesterol.

This does not make other low/no carb diets unhealthy. You don't need carbs to live.


The southbeach diet which is low carb low fat is very healthy and eliminates nearly all the risks associated with Atkins.

[Dookus]

48. what risks?

where are the studies? Where's the evidence?

[onebigbadwulf]

55. Diseases related high cholesterol and others....

such as cardiovascular disease.

Eating bacon and eggs every day increases cholesterol. It doesn't matter if you're not eating carbs, you're still eating enormous amounts of cholesterol which is absorped into your blood stream.

This leads to increased amounts of LDL (bad) and decreased amounts of HDL (good). Thus the risk of cardiovascular disease and other related illnesses likewise increases.

Atkins would be a great diet if it didnt glorify fat and cholesterol.

The number one killer of Americans and most people in first country worlds are due to CVD. The only way to stop this trend is by reducing fat and cholesterol intake while increasing exercising.

[Dookus]

60. that's not evidence

that's conventional wisdom.

Why did my good cholesterol double, my bad cholesterol get cut by 1/3rd and my triglycerides cut by 2/3rds after one month on Atkins?

Where are the actual studies that show the Atkins diet leads to the results you claim?

[Bertha Venation]

35. It depends.

Sorry. It's not something that can be "settled." It totally depends on the individual. That's one of the biggest health problems among dieters in this country: people buy into fads as fast as they possibly can.

That so many Americans just run away with the lastest diet fad -- whatever it is -- makes me incredibly sad. People do it without thinking. Ignorance kills.

[flvegan]

36. Good Lord, No...

Manipulating your body into keto isn't healthy. Besides, all that animal protein, cholesterol clogging those arteries? It's good for the quick-fix needing, lazy person, though. I mean, no exercise and a bacon-grease shake for breakfast? It screams, "why work at health when Atkins can smoke and mirror your body to a slimmer you?"

Want to drop 10 pounds really quickly? Start slamming diuretics. Just about as healthy, and just about as sensible as Atkins.

[BigMcLargehuge]

37. I figure as long as you aren't eating chicken sushi

or trying to take down a live cow with your teeth...

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. Not.

Not in that people look at it as a free pass to eat as much greasy, fatty, artery clogging crap as they want...as long as they take away the bread. My mother in law had an Atkins induced heart attack. The gluttony of America (myself included) keeps this diet from being successful. Now...back to my pork rinds. ;)

[Swamp Rat]

43. NOT AT ALL

Americans are killing themselves with "diets" in general and shitty corporate food/produce. Having lived in Norway, Continental Europe, Central and South America, I learned what and how humans are supposed to eat.

Save your money and go live in France or Spain for a year, or in Norway where hot dogs are Grade A beef, steroids and preservatives are illegal, and the tap water is as good as the best artesian wells in America. Don't believe me? Go there and find out for yourself.

[theoceansnerves]

44. as a strict vegetarian

this fad diet has caused me great sadness.

[Dookus]

47. this "fad"

has been around for 30 years.

[theoceansnerves]

50. maybe

but has it ever been as immensely popular as it is right now-- complete with "low carb" products of every variety lining every shelf at your local supermarket? and do you think it will always be this popular?

[Dookus]

52. I have no idea

but the recent science seems to back up the claims made. Many scientists and nutritionists are proposing a whole new food pyramid, in which carbs are reduced a great deal.

There is also some new science that greatly draws into question the notion that dietary cholesterol is closely related to serum cholesterol.

[Rhiannon12866]

45. No. n/t

[Dookus]

46. based on what?

Have you read the scientific studies published recently about the diet?

I'm constantly amazed that people attack this diet with pure junk science. They say "it's bad for your cholesterol". Prove it. Where are the studies? I was on it for one month and totally turned around my cholesterol and triglycerides. My cardiologist was amazed. There are NO studies to indicate it's bad for your cholesterol levels. In fact, new evidence indicates that dietary cholesterol has little relation to serum cholesterol. Hell, cows have plenty of cholesterol and go their whole lives without eating meat.

People say it's bad for kidneys. Prove it. Where are the studies? What is the evidence that people with healthy kidneys are in any way damaged by the diet? There is none.

[Rhiannon12866]

49. I just don't think that a high-fat, meat-based diet is good for anyone

I eat mostly vegetables, though I do, occasionally, eat fish and do eat cheese and eggs, probably more than I should. I am hardly the one to ask, since I am also anexoric, but this is a recent occurrence. I just think that a varied diet is best for everyone, and this is just not healthy, though I haven't been reading "scientific studies." I am a long-time subscriber to Vegetarian Times magazine. I am amazed by your anger. We successfully dispatched that horrible Freeper, last night, and I will never forget your rescuing of the skunk. I would think you'd cut me some slack, as we are on the same side.

[Dookus]

51. oh, you'll always have slack from me

I'm not attacking you. I'm asking where the evidence is that the diet is harmful.

I'm not angry with you by any measure. But I rather consistently question scientific claims that have no science behind them.

I apologize if you read anger in my post.

[Rhiannon12866]

64. Thanks. Well, the reason that I say this is that I heard a report

by nutritionists condemning the Atkins Diet, because it lacked certain nutrients that we need. They said that this was not healthy. We need a varied diet and carbohydrates are a part of this. I discussed this, just tonight, with a friend who had been on the Atkins Diet. She said that this did not work for her, since she is trying to exercise, but on the Atkins Diet, she had absolutely no energy and couldn't manage to be at all active. And, if you think about it, most athletes have diets that are high in carbohydrates, like pasta. And they are among the healthiest among us.:shrug:

[SarahB]

54. My cholesterol dropped 100 points.

Everyone on my side of the family has high cholesterol (except me now) and no one falls into the obese range either, but one experience like mine is only anecdotal evidence which doesn't make good science. "Opinions" alone on either side of this argument is only that. Studies supporting this way of eating can be found here:

http://atkins.com/science/researchsummaries/index.html

They provide the links, but Atkins themselves did not fund or conduct the studies. They are found independently in various professional, medical journals. If anyone could provide studies refuting it, I'd be interested to see, but from my knowledge, most double blind research studies that have been done seem to indicate over and over that in comparison, lower carbohydrate diets are better health-wise and in terms of long-term weight loss than low-fat diets, especially for people who are significantly overweight.

All I know is nothing worked for me until I did this. I would exercise a lot and eat like a damn bird and have headaches, be depressed, tired, was hungry all the time and felt awful. I wasn't "lazy" at all. I could lose weight, but couldn't get under 170 pounds for years. Now, that's not huge, but it is at least 20-30 pounds overweight overweight for my height. Not too mention my cholesterol and mood are so much better. I even think more clearly. No one has to eat this like and it may not work for everyone, but for me, it seems to work quite well. I still exercise, but now I actually see results from it. If people think they can eat only fatty meats without much nutrition and without exercise, they won't do well or maintain their weight with this way of eating.

I base my diet first on a vegetable base, followed by meats like poultry, then beef, then fish (I eat very little processed meats like bacon), followed by nuts, cheeses, and other dairy, followed by soy, followed by whole grains and fruits. It really isn't that "whacked-out" at all.

Personally, I think the main reason why it does fail for some people is that it breaks that addictive thing that many people have to sugars and in all honesty, some people can't give up the crutch of that addiction. To deal with any addictive behavior, you have emotional work to do as well. If people aren't going to do the emotional work, they'll fall right back into old patterns. In health and nutrition, I firmly believe in that body-mind connection and taking a holistic approach to succeed. No matter how someone plans to lose weight, they have to see it in these terms to have long-term success.

[supernova]

56. Are we at this again?

:eyes:

I will say so far, I haven't seen one, NOT ONE, anti-atkins person give a sensible picture of what one actually does on the atkins eating plan.

In short the anti atkins people are arguing with their own straw men and refuse to learn from/respond to those of us who have used Atkins with our MDs consent and used it the right way.

Kinda like fundies vs. liberal xtains. :D

[SarahB]

58. You are so right!

:thumbsup:

How many of these people have actually read one of the books to see what it specifically entails or read one research study. They just use knee jerk reactions without understanding the entire picture. It gets so old. I have written over and over about my cholesterol dropping 100 points, linking articles and studies to support it as well, yet people go on and on "Blah, blah blah....Atkins increases cholesterol... Atkins is terrible.... blah, blah, blah, blah.....". I give up. People just want to to spout off opinions without doing the legwork or research to support them. It's getting old. :eyes:

[SmileyBoy]

59. I've lost 4 lbs. in the last 2 weeks by simply being more active.

Although I am 22 and relatively healthy. It's not like I'm 50, and have worse metabolism. Though my metabolism really sucks compared to others my age.

But my point is that if people excersized more, they could lose weight. You don't need some fancy fad diet.

[Dookus]

61. for many people

it's not about weight-loss. It's about lowering cholesterol and triglycerides and raising the good cholesterol. Atkins seems to do this very well for SOME PEOPLE.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

63. DUer Lazarus to the White Courtesy Phone, Please

:D

DTH, Who Loves Atkins

[UrbScotty]

65. NO. YOU NEED CARBS.

This 'low-carb craze' is, well, crazy.

Controlling carbs doesn't lose weight for you. Controlling CALORIES is what does it. And excercise.

Think of weight loss like politics: Limiting carbs is like having a lot of cash in the campaign coffer. Limiting calories is like having a lot of votes. Now, I would rather have more votes than more money, because votes are what count. Same thing in weight loss: Calories count, not carbs.