| The
Atkins Illusion
By Tracy
Rohland
Many Americans are obsessed with weight loss. Millions of
dollars are spent each year on weight loss programs, diet
books, diet foods, miracle drinks, and surgeries in order
to get our bodies to shed those extra pounds. With the latest
resurgence of the popular Atkins diet, also known as the low-carb
diet or the protein diet, millions of people are emptying
their pocketbooks to jump on board. These high-priced “low-carb”
foods, which include “nutrition” bars and ready-to-eat
meals along with tons of meat, cheese and dairy products,
deny the body proper nutrition. Dr. Atkins has successfully
convinced many people that carbohydrates are the enemy, when
in fact the body needs carbohydrates more than any other food.
While it is important to limit simple carbohydrates like white
flour and sugar, complex carbohydrates like whole grains are
loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which are crucial
for good health.
There is also a real danger in excessive protein
consumption, which is at the heart of the Atkins diet. Dr.
John A. McDougall, author of “The McDougall Plan,”
and “McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss,”
said the body of a healthy adult man uses less than 20 grams
of protein a day. When an individual consumes large amounts
of protein, the body does not have the means to store the
excess and so it is eliminated by the liver and kidneys. The
elimination of this protein overworks these organs, causing
damage to organ tissue and proper function. For individuals
who already suffer from kidney problems, such as diabetes,
the increased stress from a high-protein diet can have serious
consequences.
Additionally, the kidneys use minerals from
the body to help eliminate this excess protein. The most important
mineral that is sacrificed in this process is calcium. Calcium
deficiency leads to osteoporosis later in life. McDougall
cites a case study of the Bantu tribe in Africa versus a group
living in the United States. The Bantus subsist on a low-protein
vegetable-based diet and have virtually no cases of osteoporosis,
while a genetically related group of people studied in the
United States who consumed the typical American diet rich
in meat and dairy, had high osteoporosis rates. Native Eskimos
who consume a diet extremely high in protein from sea life
have the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world.
When a person eliminates carbohydrates from
his diet, he also eliminates fiber. Fiber is a crucial part
of the human diet and it is not found in animal-derived foods.
Fiber binds to toxic substances in our bodies and washes them
out of our system. It allows for rapid movement of food through
the intestines, preventing harmful bacteria from building
up due to constipation. Fiber also binds to cholesterol, explaining
why a high-fiber diet is associated with healthy cholesterol
levels and lower heart attack rates. Fiber is also important
in regulating blood sugar by encouraging carbohydrates to
be absorbed at a slower rate, which keeps the blood sugar
levels balanced. Overall, a person on a low-carb, high-protein
diet puts himself at risk for kidney stones, osteoporosis,
heart attack, and constipation among other complications.
How can we stay healthy and lose weight? According
to McDougall’s research, the diet that best supports
health and healing for humans is a pure vegetable diet based
around starch foods, with the addition of fresh fruits and
vegetables. Carbohydrates provide the most efficient and available
source of energy for our bodies. They are plentiful in vitamins,
minerals, fibers, proteins and essential fats. To deny the
body the carbohydrates it needs is irresponsible and dangerous.
Eating a variety of whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruit,
along with eliminating (or at least limiting) one’s
intake of saturated fat and cholesterol-laden foods, is an
effective way to promote weight loss while providing for the
body’s needs.
Facts from this article were taken from:
McDougall, John A. The McDougall Plan. New Win Publishing,
Clinton, NJ. 1983.
McDougall, John A. The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight
Loss. Penguin
Books USA, New York, New York. 1994.
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