Avocado question

[melimeli]

Ok I know we are only allowed 1/2 of avocado a day.. but why? They are so low in carbs.... So low why can we only eat 1/2????

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Avocado question

When I read your question, a quote from a poem I learned in junior high school decades ago popped into my mind...

"Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die."



I don't know why.... but Dr. Atkins was a pretty smart man, and I'll take his word for it!

[boonie stomper]

Re: Avocado question

Maybe he was referring to the LARGE "Lite" variety of avocado?

I don't really know the answer either, but would give the benefit of the doubt to the suggestion it is a guideline aimed at developing the habits of portioning food, portion control, eating a serving instead of the whole thing, etc. At the same time, it could help one un-install the bad habit of eating all of a thing just because it is there, and/or tasted good.

[Georgiana]

Re: Avocado question

Avocados are listed in DANDR under the "Special Category Foods". The reason behind it: Dr. Atkins noticed that some folks are stalled or have their weight loss slowed down by it. From the book (Ch 11):

To add variety each day you can also eat ten to twenty olives, half a small avocado, [...]. But be aware that these foods occasionally slow down weight loss in some people, and may need to be avoided in the first two weeks.

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Avocado question

Thanks for clearing that mystery up, Georgiana!

[Kimmala]

Re: Avocado question

Sunny one - just thought I'd say how good you are looking. Well done

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Avocado question

When I read your question, a quote from a poem I learned in junior high school decades ago popped into my mind...

"Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die."



I don't know why.... but Dr. Atkins was a pretty smart man, and I'll take his word for it!

My first thought was, "Because Mama said so!" followed quickly by, "Because Dr. Atkins said so."

I find it counterproductive to over-think the first stages, especially Induction. The food lists and instructions for following the program are based on years of treating 25,000 plus patients, research and results achieved. Avocado was not even in the list for the first few years.

During Induction, Dr. Atkins was trying to add more "sociably acceptable" foods and more choices. He still had to make keeping to 20 carbs easy to do. He didn't want to bog the person down with weighing & measuring food and calorie counting any more than he had to. He wanted Induction to be easy, tasty and hunger-free, but needed a way to keep that person within the tight carb guidelines. He had to give a reasonable quantity to foods both high in calories, fat and containing carbs, so you have room for the other veggies and carb-containing protein.

If you figured up the actual net carbs in the three cups of salad veggies or two cups of salad veggies and one cup of "other" veggies, you wouldn't have near 20 net carbs. BUT, with so many other allowed foods containing carbs he had to set a limit because you could quickly go beyond the 20 carbs. Eggs, all dairy, shellfish, and organ meats all contain carbs. He set limits on all but eggs for that reason. Artificial sweeteners have carbs except liquid Splenda. Herbs and spices have carbs. In order to not have to measure and weigh every single item you put in your mouth, he just set limits for each type of food except fat and protein (he cautioned against too much protein).

A whole avocado is not what he considered a reasonable "special food list" serving. He had to write the diet for the masses with the expectation that "we" would eat each of the allowed foods and that it all would add up to 20 carbs. We could do that and still not go over on carbs.

It has been my experience that whatever parameters we are given, we will push the boundaries every chance we get. If he limited us to one whole avocado per day, no doubt someone would be asking why we can't eat two. It's the nature of the beast.

Sunny!

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Avocado question

Sunny one - just thought I'd say how good you are looking. Well done

Thanks so much!

Excellent points, SunnySmiles!

[Georgiana]

Re: Avocado question

It has been my experience that whatever parameters we are given, we will push the boundaries every chance we get. If he limited us to one whole avocado per day, no doubt someone would be asking why we can't eat two. It's the nature of the beast.

So true! When I started Atkins I was wondering why is there a 3-4 oz limit on cheese if one slice has only something like 0.5 carbs. :P

Great points, Sunny!