health risks of the atkins diet

[cookist]

I heard the atkins diet is very effective, but there are alot of severe health risks that come with it. some are dehydration, high blood pressure, and other things like that.
Is it true? if so is there any way to lower the health risks while on the diet?

[sallyseachange]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

Yes, it's very effective... if you follow the plan properly. No, there are no severe health risks (unless of course you have some kind of pre-existing health problem that isn't compatible with a low carb diet).
Blood pressure numbers usually get better on the plan (as do cholesterol and blood sugar numbers).
There are a lot of scaremongers out there who don't really have much of a clue about the programme. Many people confuse the whole plan with the two week induction period and get misled.

I strongly suggest you read Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002 edition). It really pays to understand the science behind the programme.

[AreYouGonnaEatThat]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

I heard the atkins diet is very effective, but there are alot of severe health risks that come with it. some are dehydration, high blood pressure, and other things like that.
Is it true? if so is there any way to lower the health risks while on the diet?

You probably heard those things from people who don't know what they're talking about. Nobody should get dehydrated on Atkins if you're following the plan, which calls for at least 64oz of water per day. 64oz is the minimum. Most people will tell you (correctly) to drink more than that. Half of your body weight in ounces is the general rule of thumb.

As far as high blood pressure goes, I would say that's not true for the most part (generally speaking, there are always exceptions). I've heard that several times in articles and from people who don't actually know how Atkins works. It's not all bacon, mayonaise and cheeseburgers. We eat a generous amount of vegetables (most of your carbs come from them). Not to mention that on Atkins, the goal is to get away from processed foods with all of those unhealthy additives and choose whole foods.

Don't believe the myths

[Browneyedmelly]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

All I can do is speak for myself.. when I started Atkins my blood pressue was 212/110...Last Thurs... it was taken at the doctor's office and it was 140/70... my blood sugar was at 101....Right now I am 296....so those are my stats...not bad....I do have to say though it took a couple of months of this wol and walking...

[WetBanana]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

I would love to know where you "heard" that information. I've yet to "hear" any substantiated evidence that this WOE is bad for us. By substantiated - I mean research that backs it up.

Everybody can have an opinion, but there's no getting around actual fact.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

I found this link to many research studies about low carb diets (not necessarily Atkins, but many ketogenic diets):

Low Carbohydrate Nutrition: Low Carb Research

These studies show time and time again that low carb is healthy and actually improves many health conditions, from autism, diabetes and heart disease.

Personally, all my numbers have improved dramatically, BP, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, etc.

The problem with Atkins is most people do not read the book and thus do it right. Not following a diet properly is bad regardless of which diet it is.

I eat lots of veggies, some fruit, drink lots of water, eat lots of great foods and am not hungry, exercise, have lots of energy and all my test results are golden. What's not great about this way of losing weight and getting healthy?

[Beckie74]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

I have been trying to get my mother on Atkins for ages and she has been so against it... So when she visited me last month I made her eat like me and she lost a considerable amount of weight... THEN... She went to her doc and she told my mother that it was dangerous and that Dr Atkins died of a heart attack due to his own diet... I told my mother this was BS and if she does not believe me there is alot of info online about this lifestyle ( I don't call it a diet)... It angers me so much that this lie is perpetuated through the medical community like this... It was working for my mother and now because of her doctor, it has all gone back on... I have been eating this way for 14 months and feel better for it... So much ignorance in the world.

[matawguro]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

Does being attacked by rabid vegans count as a health risk?

[AJs-mommy]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

I think everyone here (ADBB) answers that pretty clearly. I have not seen one thread here about anyone's health getting worse while on Atkins.

When I decided to start Atkins I had the same concerns. Then I thought, "Being 25 yrs old and weighing 219lbs with a BMI >35 can't be healthier than Atkins".

[mizski]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

She went to her doc and she told my mother that it was dangerous and that Dr Atkins died of a heart attack due to his own diet...

Dr. Robert Atkins died on 17 April 2003 at the age of 72 after sustaining head injuries in a fall outside his New York clinic on 8 April 2003. He died on 17 April 2003 after having been in a coma for more than a week.

This is common knowledge. Shame on a medical doctor for not knowing this and making up a story. And it's too bad that your mom listened to her.

[pagliaccia]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

In addition to the advice everyone has already given, I like to compare my daily menu with any critic of the diet. It absolutely puts them in their place.

[forbey]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

After watching all my bad numbers go down and most of my good numbers go up, I think the important question isn't what are the dangers of doing Atkins, but what are the dangers of NOT doing Atkins! (But, then again, I'm preaching to the choir.)

forbey

[AndrewH]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

I heard the atkins diet is very effective, but there are alot of severe health risks that come with it. some are dehydration, high blood pressure, and other things like that.
Is it true? if so is there any way to lower the health risks while on the diet?

High blood pressure? If anything, it's low blood pressure that you could get from doing Atkins.

[CalicoPrairie]

Re: health risks of the atkins diet

Wow, I dunno how anyone could get dehydrated on Atkins--we drink so dang much water!