Atkins and other Diets
Dec. 1st, 2003 11:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lathanyBrowsing the BBC health website I found this.
(A story about the dangers of breaking from Atkins and adding extras - in this case alcohol and biscuits)
Now, I've been on various diets in my time but, when Atkins appeared, I decided I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Not based on expert medical opinion you understand, just a deep-rooted prejudice against a diet that worked on a high fat content.
Also, having read this, when/if I go back on a diet this sort of thing wouldn't suit me. Simply because I too would break the rules from time to time and don't fancy being rushed off in an ambulance for my weaknesses. I prefer the low-cal (ie. fifteen hundred cal) diets where the weight comes off gradually and you can eat anything, just in small quantities.
But, more to the point, given that it's well-known that people often break diets should Atkins be promoted at all given this sort of risk ? On the one hand saying it shouldn't is like suggesting it's OK to sue MacDonalds for weight gain (which I don't agree with - I believe people should take responsibility for their own eating habits). On the other, if someone doesn't understand the risks of the diet then it could be deadly. Is there a health warning out there which is big enough ?
(A story about the dangers of breaking from Atkins and adding extras - in this case alcohol and biscuits)
Now, I've been on various diets in my time but, when Atkins appeared, I decided I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Not based on expert medical opinion you understand, just a deep-rooted prejudice against a diet that worked on a high fat content.
Also, having read this, when/if I go back on a diet this sort of thing wouldn't suit me. Simply because I too would break the rules from time to time and don't fancy being rushed off in an ambulance for my weaknesses. I prefer the low-cal (ie. fifteen hundred cal) diets where the weight comes off gradually and you can eat anything, just in small quantities.
But, more to the point, given that it's well-known that people often break diets should Atkins be promoted at all given this sort of risk ? On the one hand saying it shouldn't is like suggesting it's OK to sue MacDonalds for weight gain (which I don't agree with - I believe people should take responsibility for their own eating habits). On the other, if someone doesn't understand the risks of the diet then it could be deadly. Is there a health warning out there which is big enough ?
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Re: Alcohol is OK.
Date: 2003-12-01 05:01 am (UTC)Re: Alcohol is OK.
Date: 2003-12-01 05:04 am (UTC)I'm not drinking that much orange juice, and I probably just about squeeze under the 20g-carbs-a-day induction limit. Err, not that I'm doing Atkins...
Re: Alcohol is OK.
Date: 2003-12-01 05:39 am (UTC)Seriously, the main problem with atkins is that it really really bungs people up, and if its used for years I personally think the main risk is that the almost total lack of fibre is bad for your colon (low fibre, high fat diets are known to raise risk of colon cancer if followed over >10-15 years).
For whatever period anyone is on a diet/altered food habit, they have to live as well. So bring on the occasional treat I say (just don't tell Dr Atkins)
Re: Alcohol is OK.
Date: 2003-12-01 05:42 am (UTC)I think you have just penetrated to the core of my personal diet plan :)