Atkins’ Diet Dangers - Users following Dr Atkins’ principles of weight control burn fat quickly and weight loss can be quite remarkable. But this diet’s efficiency needs to be considered from a broad perspective. Are there short or long term health risks? Some Atkins’ diet dangers have been argued already and research and clinical studies continue.
Because Dr Atkins’ diet principles differ considerably to diet plans and strategies used by traditional nutritionists and medical care experts, it has been analysed and scrutinized and some questions and concerns raised.
Scientific data to support or deny the Atkins’ diet principles is incomplete and at times inconsistent. Some medical concerns are still not fully resolved. Nevertheless, the data obtained from some incomplete or small group studies which have been conducted can’t be ruled out. Regarding lifestyle, the possible dangers of adhering to the Atkins’ diet can be confined to four broad areas.
Atkins’ Diet Dangers : Cardiovascular Risk Factors
First of all, physicians from the American Heart Association are worried because a high-animal protein and high-fat diet may be damaging to the heart and blood vessels’ health (blood flow and blood clots especially). Emphasizing foods like meat, eggs, saturated fats and eliminating fruits and starchy vegetables, Atkins diet restricts, in fact, those foods rich in essential nutrients. The low fiber intake is also a concern for the American Heart Association. In their opinion, an eating regimen so rich in meat and fatty foods is conducive to coronary heart diseases and even strokes. In AHA‘s opinion, many people are already eating too much high-protein and high-fat foods than they really need daily.
Atkins’ Diet Dangers : Kidney Stones
Specialists quoted by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases are worried because high-protein diets may increase the acidity of the human body (as much as 90%). The calcium level may rise as well. This may cause an increase in the level of a compound called oxalate in urinary excretion. This compound may combine with others including calcium and result in the formation of kidney stones. This has been revealed by a small six-week study on ten healthy adults.
Atkins’ Diet Dangers : Osteoporosis
The same small study has shown that the same high levels of calcium in the volunteers’ urine indicates a decreased absorption of calcium (body’s bone-building material). Eventually, this may lead to osteoporosis.
Atkins’ Diet Dangers : Constipation
Constipation has already been admitted by Dr. Atkins himself as an adverse effect of his diet, in the Induction phase (which is rather depriving the dieter of fibers). On a long-term basis, constipation might become chronic. This is harmful for two reasons:
- A bowel deficiency may cause an increase in dangerous toxicity in the human body.
- Attempts to control constipation by medication may cause long term malfunction of the body’s natural elimination system.
The nutritional care community has also raised concerns about the Atkins’ diet regarding nutritional adequacy, dietary compliance and quality of life. Until now there are two charges related to “Atkins bad diet”: a 41-year-old male and a 16-year-old girl died while on Atkins diet. It is worth mentioning that the American National Institute of Health is now conducting a large 3 year-study on low-carb dieting, including Atkins’ diet.
Atkins’ Diet Dangers
