Dr Atkins revolutionised the dieting world when he introduced and published a low-carb eating program in the '70s. Since then his diet has caused quite a debate in regard to its use and safety. So what's wrong with it exactly? The first thought that comes across my mind is that carbohydrates are definitely important in our diets and by excluding them, the body must rely on protein and fat. By eliminating them from the food we eat, we decrease our intake of vital minerals and vitamins. It's worth mentioning that the diet also restricts other healthy nutrients such as fibre and non-starch polysaccharides needed for normal gut function.
Too many full-fat foods in big portions (often containing saturated fat from animal products) not only adds too many calories, but also raises lipid and cholesterol levels in the blood. Furthermore it's linked to a number of potential health risks such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes. Moreover, consuming too much protein is thought to put strain on the kidneys, therefore increasing the possibility of renal injury. This is because the body can't store protein, and once its needs are met, the excess must be removed and gets converted by the liver into urea and other nitrogen-containing breakdown products, which are finally eliminated through the kidneys as part of the urine.
High protein intake also causes loss of calcium into the blood and can lead to joint problems or even osteoporosis. Whilst the immediate positive benefit attributed to the Atkins diet is obviously an almost guaranteed weight loss, the long term consequences on cardiac, renal, bone and liver health must be taken into consideration.
The key to a reasonable approach is knowledge. The 'new' version of the Atkins diet has turned into a 'low-carbohydrate' diet. It seems to be a better option than restricting carbohydrate completely. However, it is still very low in fruit, vegetables and fibre, so in terms of digestive health - not a good option. The simple truth is that overweight people must have consumed more calories than they needed for some period of time. Whilst you can lose weight on anything that helps you to eat less, it does not necessarily mean it's good for you.
If you want to slim down be aware of the amount of energy you put into your body and the amount of energy you burn. Compare those two: if the first figure is higher than the second, it's likely that you will gain weight in the long term. Men need approx 2500 Kcal daily and women 2000 Kcal. So what do we need these calories for? Our daily calorie intake can be divided into the 3 following areas: firstly, basal metabolic rate (BMR) - it is the minimum amount of energy needed for our bodies to function on a daily basis and includes things like our heart beating and our breathing, secondly is something called induced thermogenesis (DIT) which is the energy we use to digest our food and finally we need energy for physical activity, to move and to exercise.
It is obvious that if we are more active, we use more energy (which means we burn more calories). Eating more than we need will simply make the body store these calories as fat for 'later use'.
Nowadays, we tend to get less exercise. Those with a sedentary life-style are more likely to be overweight than active individuals, which is why it's not difficult to gain extra pounds. Although the protein and weight-loss connection appears promising, the Atkins is not a secret weapon for getting skinny. Fad diets simply target vulnerable individuals who want a quick fix, but the long term consequences may outweigh the short term benefits.
If you consider the Atkins approach, think about it not as a simple diet but rather as a philosophy of life and remember that no matter which diet claims to help you get rid of unwanted pounds quickly, it's not advisable to lose more than one to two pounds per week. Anything more than that may slow down your metabolism, which means your body will be burning fat less efficiently. Shedding pounds too fast also increases the risk of nutritional deficiencies and can lead to other serious health problems. If you are really keen to slim down, try to keep portions small and do not forget about being more active.
Dr Nina Bailey is a nutritional scientist whose efforts are concentrated within the role of dietary health and nutritional intervention in disease, with particular emphasis being placed upon the role of essential fatty acids in specific conditions (e.g. chronic fatigue syndrome, depression). For more information on Dr Nina Bailey, please visit drninabailey.com drninabailey.com/, and for additional information concerning how essential fatty acids could help you, go to igennus-hn.com igennus-hn.com
No comments:
Post a Comment