Diet Myths Revealed: The Atkins Diet Myth

Unless you have been living on Jupiter, there is a high probability that you may have heard of the Dr. Atkins "New Diet Revolution" either through the mass media or through someone who tried it extensively. The Atkins diet, which is classified as a high protein low carbohydrate diet, is based on a simple theory. Once the human organism is deprived from carbohydrates, it shifts to burn the present fat stores to provide energy.

It is said that limiting carbohydrates will keep blood sugar levels more stable and less fluctuating throughout the day thus preventing overeating. Consequently, shedding fat and loosing inches off the waistline should be the logic result. Unfortunately, a more appropriate description of the Atkins theory would be the diet that sounds "too good to be true". Avoiding carbohydrate rich treats as biscuits, cakes, chocolate, crisps, fizzy drinks, croissants and pastry is not the only rule of thumb .Bread, potatoes, rice, milk, fruit and most  vegetables are also discarded from the menu.

Red meat, chicken, fish, cheese, egg, mayo, cream and butter are almost unlimited. These are not the typical items of food expected to be found in a shopping list of weight loss seeking individuals.

The British government's medical research council, backed up by the British Nutrition Foundation and the British Dietetic Association, condemned the Atkins diet as "negligent, nonsense and pseudoscience, posing a massive health risk." To begin with, the high intake of saturated fats linked with the Atkins diet increases the possibility of ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, blood clots and other cardiovascular risk factors.

In addition to this, studies at Harvard and elsewhere involving tens of thousands of women and men have shown that regular meat consumption may increase colon cancer risk by as much as 300 percent. Plant based diets- which are rich in a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and minimally processed starchy food -are the best cancer shields. Exactly the opposite of the options present in the Atkins diet. Furthermore, poor intakes of bone building calcium (found in dairy products) and high animal protein intakes-which leach calcium from the bones -may both augment one's risk of osteoporosis and hip/forearm fracture. For menopausal women, who already suffer from osteoporosis favoring hormone circumstances, one should be cautious and well informed of these bone harming facts.

Last but not least, the story of 53 years old businessman Jody Gorran will be a scientifically proven milestone for Atkins diet antagonists and an Achilles heel of the supporters.ِAtkins diet  Before starting the Atkins diet, his cholesterol level was excellent with no history of heart diseases and an unrelated CT scan showed that his coronary arteries were in perfect health (zero blockages).After approximately two years on the Atkins diet, one of his coronary arteries was 99% blocked with diminished heart function. His experience should be heavily impregnated in every corner of the brain cells of people easily influenced by mass media trends and fad diets which are not backed by internationally recognized peer-reviewed studies and trials.

"A successful diet has to be more than simply loosing weight", Gorran said on Good Morning America. He also added on the same occasion: "A successful diet should not kill you."