Low Carb Rebuttal
Source of Recipe
3 Fat Chicks on a Diet
Many experts recommend avoiding Low Carb Diets. Even the authors of "The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet" recommend it only be followed by people that are insulin resistent. We searched for articles from reputable sources that share the flip side to low carbohydrate diets, and suggest you review these before making any decisions. As always, please see your physician before deciding which diet is right for you.
Getting the Skinny on High Protein Diets Healthology
Excerpts from this article include:
Mastering the Zone by Barry Sears, PhD
Specific theory/claims:
Forty percent calories from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fat and 30 percent from protein. Daily calorie levels range from 1,000 to 1,600 calories.
Evaluation/Recommendations:
This diet is excessive in protein and low in carbohydrates. It is not, however, not a radical diet, nor is it dangerous, as it does not induce ketosis.
The Zone might help you get started since it is low in calories and does recommend exercise. It may be particularly beneficial for those people who are carbohydrate cravers and overload on carbohydrates. By adding protein to each meal and decreasing portions of carbohydrates, the cravings may lessen, leading to decreased caloric intake and weight loss. However, the diet can be difficult to follow, as very specific amounts of food must be combined at each meal and snack. The diet is somewhat low in fiber, so pay special attention to eating high-fiber fruits, vegetables and grains. Overall, the Zone is one of the better diets in the bunch.
Protein Power by Micheal Eades, MD and Mary Dan Eades, MD
Specific theory/claims:
Limits the amount of carbohydrates to 30 grams a day, thereby promoting ketosis.
This diet claims that insulin also causes the body to make substances called “bad” eicosanoids (which are involved in a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, etc.
Evaluation/Recommendations:
This diet is not recommended, as it promotes ketosis. This is a low-calorie, high-protein diet that is also excessively high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber. It should not be followed for more than a few weeks, if that long. There is no scientific evidence that eicosanoids are responsible for the above medical conditions.
Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins, MD
Specific theory/claims:
Allows unlimited amounts of protein and fat. There is no calorie counting. The two-week “induction” diet is extremely low in carbohydrates—20 grams a day, thereby inducing ketosis. The maintenance diet ranges from 15 to 90 grams of carbohydrate a day.
Evaluation/Recommendation:
This diet is not recommended, as it promotes ketosis and suggests that you test your urine to verify this condition. The diet is quite high in artery-clogging saturated fat, as well as total fat. Dr. Atkins claims that his high-fat diet will help reduce heart disease, yet medical studies conclusively show that saturated fat and cholesterol raise the risk of heart disease. It is not recommended that this diet be followed for more than a few weeks, as it is promotes ketosis and is excessive in saturated fat.
Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet by Dr. Rachael and Dr. Richard Heller
Specific theory/claim:
Reward meal once a day—you can eat anything you want and as much as you want for one hour. Minimal carbohydrates are allowed at other two meals. No snacking and no calorie counting.
Evaluation/Recommendation:
This diet is not dangerous, as it does not induce ketosis. However, it is not a balanced way to eat because it promotes deprivation at all meals except for one, at which time you can “reward” yourself by gorging on unlimited quantities of food for one hour. The unlimited eating once a day could trigger binge eating in some people. The diet is also lacking in many nutrients.
We also recommened viewing the video "Low Carb Diets- Are they Safe?" found at Healthology
Atkins Diet Alert
Low Carb Diets Unhealthy Trend Health A to Z
Low-carb diets: The debate continues A Healthy Me (Blue Cross Blue Shield)
The Hazards of High-Protein Diets A Healthy Me (Blue Cross Blue Shield)
Popular diets: The good, the fad and the iffy Mayo Clinic.
Excerpt from article:
Suzanne Somers' Get Skinny on Fabulous Food (Suzanne Somers and associates)Premise:
Suzanne Somers — actress turned health-products merchandiser, selling wares from skin care goods to pasta — says that when proteins and carbohydrates are eaten together their enzymes cancel each other out, creating a halt in the digestion process and causing weight gain.
Facts:
Reality check — many healthy, naturally occurring foods contain both carbohydrate and protein: nuts, milk, lentils, beans and whole-grain breads. This high-fat diet may put you at increased risk of coronary heart disease, high-cholesterol, liver and kidney damage, some cancers, and osteoporosis. There are no scientific studies to show that this diet works or is safe.
New Diet Revolution (Robert C. Atkins, M.D.)
Premise:
The 1997 book, Dr. Atkins' NEW Diet Revolution, suggests drastically reducing the intake of dietary carbohydrates to force your body to burn your reserve of stored fat for energy. This results in losing pounds and inches while still eating protein and fat-laden foods. Meat, eggs, butter and most cheeses can be eaten without restriction on this diet.
Facts:
The effects of this high-protein diet actually may have you eating high-fat foods and, therefore, increase your risk of heart disease, high-cholesterol, liver and kidney damage, some cancers, and osteoporosis. There are no long-term studies to show that this diet works or is safe.
Protein Power Lifeplan (Michael R. Eades, M.D., and Mary Dan Eades, M.D.)
Premise:
Protein Power Lifeplan, published in 1997, and its proponents claim that the human body has no physical needs for carbohydrates and that they should be severely limited in order to trick your body into burning fat without making you feel hungry. Authors Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades make the case that you cut most carbohydrates out of your diet. A few menu choices include smoked salmon and cream cheese omelets, sauteed jumbo shrimp, and double-patty burgers.
Facts:
This high-protein diet may result in you eating high-fat foods and, therefore, increase your risk of heart disease, high-cholesterol, liver and kidney damage, some cancers, and osteoporosis. The authors claim success through testimonial anecdotes and book sales. No scientifically validated studies suggest that the Protein Power diet works.
The Zone diet (Barry Sears, Ph.D.)
Premise:
In his 1995 book, Enter the Zone, Sears writes that to enter "the zone" you need to eat the proper quantities of food, in the proper "macronutrient blocks" at prescribed times. Meals should contain carbohydrates, proteins and fats in the ratio of 40 percent, 30 percent, 30 percent, respectively. A sample meal may be 2 cups of pasta (carbohydrate), a 3-ounce piece of steak (protein), and a small handful of nuts or other fats to round out the meal.
Facts:
Although not as restricted as other high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets, the typical zone diet contains less than 1,000 calories, which may result in an inability to meet vitamin and mineral needs for most people. The Zone diet has not been validated scientifically. There's no scientific reason for eating set combinations of foods at set times.
Carbohydrate Addict's LifeSpan Program (Drs. Richard and Rachael Heller)
Premise:
Richard and Rachael Heller claim that an excess of insulin, the "hunger hormone," causes the carbohydrate addict to experience intense and recurring cravings, as well as the heightened ability to store fat. The affected person has a biological condition caused by a hormonal imbalance, which can be corrected by following their program. They advocate a very low carbohydrate diet throughout the daytime, and a single "reward meal" consisting of carbohydrate counterbalanced by vegetable and protein.
FACTS:
The effects of a low-carbohydrate diet may result in eating high-fat foods and, therefore, increase risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, liver and kidney damage, some cancers, and osteoporosis. How realistic is it never to have fruit or cereal for breakfast or a sandwich for lunch? The authors claim success through testimonial anecdotes and book sales. No scientifically validated studies suggest that this diet works.
|
Â
Â
Â
|
member logon
