Atkins diet deprives body of vital nutrients
October 29, 2004
By Lori Faye Coleman
The problem of obesity is well known in America because it plagues 61 percent of the population. Virtually all women and many men, whether overweight, obese, or in the normal weight range, have tried losing weight through fad diets.
People want to lose
weight the fastest way possible, regardless of the
method. This is unhealthy because generally, fad diets
promote the exclusion of one or more essential nutrients.
This can cause many different health problems such as
malnutrition (over- and undernutrition), fatigue, acute
anemia, bone loss, hemorrhoids, etc.
Robert C. Atkins, a cardiologist, developed the now-famed Atkins diet, so his patients could lose weight quickly in preparation for cardiovascular surgery.
His solution: lower carbohydrate intake to 40 grams per day.
The body will resort to ketosis to receive energy, instead of glucose from carbohydrates which is the body's preferred method, while overcompensating with high protein foods, which tend to be high in fat and cholesterol. Still, in his book he claims that "the Atkins diet is the safest, healthiest, most luxurious way to start the slim, second half of one's life."
Ketosis is the process of using fat for energy with a byproduct of ketones. While this sounds beneficial, it has negative side effects: excess ketones lead to dehydration.
When trying to eliminate carbohydrates, the body misses out on a lot of the vitamins and minerals that fight cancer, heart disease, stroke and malnutrition.
Fruits and vegetables are carbohydrates and are the greatest sources of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which help protect against cancer and yet, are being limited.
Whole grains and wheat are carbohydrates that help to lower cholesterol and reduce the risks of heart disease, while at the same time providing 99 percent of fiber to regulate bowel movements, they are being limited.
Milk is a carbohydrate that is the number one source for calcium and vitamin D, which helps build and maintain strong, healthy bones and prevents osteoporosis, again, it is being limited.
Carbohydrates - hence the suffix hydrate - provide the body with ample fluid to maintain hydration, fluid and electrolyte balance, and yet, they are being limited.
To compensate for these nutrient deficiencies, Dr. Atkins recommends that his dieters take over 30 supplement pills a day. If this doesn't raise a red flag to Atkins dieters, then their white flags must already be at full mast.
Source:www.indianastatesman.com
|
