SweetJenna
Sat, Nov-24-07, 03:44
http://www.everydayhealth.com/publicsite/index.aspx?puid=ae5e0d25-b0d9-4ac4-ba65-201a40d469b5&p=12
Here is the text from the article at the link above:
As more and more people adopted these diets, food manufacturers and restaurants began promoting products to fit into this eating plan. Some of the low-carb diets (like the South Beach Diet) distinguish between good fats and bad fats, but some (like Atkins) don’t. Without any advice on which fats to eat, people tend to load up on the bad ones that they love: bacon, cheese, steak, and eggs, for example. But this approach leads to an unbalanced diet that’s way too high in saturated fats.
In fact, a study that used various equations to estimate the impact of certain diets on long-term health estimated that the Atkins diet would raise the average American’s cholesterol by 51 mg/dL. However, in more surprising news, some studies found that low-carb diets have a similar effect on cholesterol levels as low-fat diets, or in some cases even a better effect. For example, a six-month study of 79 obese people found that a low-carb diet had a similar effect on HDL and LDL levels compared with a low-fat diet, but the low-carb diet had a more favorable impact on triglyceride levels.
But other studies have found the opposite. So at this point there’s just not enough unbiased information out there to give a green light to eating bacon cheeseburgers (with or without the bun) every day. Plus, with what we do know about diet and cholesterol, it is illogical to conclude that long-term consumption of a low-carb, high-saturated fat, high-protein diet would be healthy:
The link between saturated fat and heart disease is well established; studies also suggest an increased risk for stroke, but the link is not as strong.
Low-carb diets are very low in fiber. Many studies worldwide link a high intake of fiber with a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Does the Media ever really research before spewing this nonsense?
The Atkins diet is very low in fruits and vegetables. Many studies link a high intake of fruits and vegetables with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.
Again....HELLO??? Low in fruits maybe...but vegetables are the core source of carbs!
Low-carb diets are very high in protein. Protein is essential for health. However, in animals, large amounts of protein accelerate the aging of the kidneys, and high-protein diets are harmful for some people with kidney disease. In addition, a high intake of protein causes calcium loss that may increase the risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones.
These diets are likely to be high in sodium (salt). A high intake of sodium is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure in some people.
I find that by making my own foods I take in less sodium overall. It is sad that this many years after Dr. Atkins started this plan, the media still refuses to understand or believe that we do not live on bacon and processed meats. And who is to blame for those foods having the sodium in them to begin with? Grrrrr...
The best study to date on the subject found that even though low-carb dieters initially lose weight faster than low-fat dieters, at the end of a year, the two groups are neck-and-neck in the weight-loss race.
At the end of one year....wow a whole year they followed the LC vs Low Fat/HC diets? Let's poll the individuals on each of the plans and see who has more energy, feels healthier and stronger and wants to continue long term. I can guarantee it will be the low carb eater....because the low fat will be starving, miserable and deprived. They will be more likely to cheat on the plan and regain the weight with all of the sugar that is added into low fat foods. I shudder to think what life is like on the LF/HC "diet."
On the plus side, low-carb diets often do lower triglyceride levels nicely, and they may have a less pronounced effect on lowering HDL, which often happens on low-fat diets. So, if you have high triglycerides, a low-carb diet could lead to a substantial reduction in triglycerides and thus in total cholesterol, although it is unlikely to have a beneficial impact on LDL cholesterol.
Here is the text from the article at the link above:
As more and more people adopted these diets, food manufacturers and restaurants began promoting products to fit into this eating plan. Some of the low-carb diets (like the South Beach Diet) distinguish between good fats and bad fats, but some (like Atkins) don’t. Without any advice on which fats to eat, people tend to load up on the bad ones that they love: bacon, cheese, steak, and eggs, for example. But this approach leads to an unbalanced diet that’s way too high in saturated fats.
In fact, a study that used various equations to estimate the impact of certain diets on long-term health estimated that the Atkins diet would raise the average American’s cholesterol by 51 mg/dL. However, in more surprising news, some studies found that low-carb diets have a similar effect on cholesterol levels as low-fat diets, or in some cases even a better effect. For example, a six-month study of 79 obese people found that a low-carb diet had a similar effect on HDL and LDL levels compared with a low-fat diet, but the low-carb diet had a more favorable impact on triglyceride levels.
But other studies have found the opposite. So at this point there’s just not enough unbiased information out there to give a green light to eating bacon cheeseburgers (with or without the bun) every day. Plus, with what we do know about diet and cholesterol, it is illogical to conclude that long-term consumption of a low-carb, high-saturated fat, high-protein diet would be healthy:
The link between saturated fat and heart disease is well established; studies also suggest an increased risk for stroke, but the link is not as strong.
Low-carb diets are very low in fiber. Many studies worldwide link a high intake of fiber with a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Does the Media ever really research before spewing this nonsense?
The Atkins diet is very low in fruits and vegetables. Many studies link a high intake of fruits and vegetables with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.
Again....HELLO??? Low in fruits maybe...but vegetables are the core source of carbs!
Low-carb diets are very high in protein. Protein is essential for health. However, in animals, large amounts of protein accelerate the aging of the kidneys, and high-protein diets are harmful for some people with kidney disease. In addition, a high intake of protein causes calcium loss that may increase the risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones.
These diets are likely to be high in sodium (salt). A high intake of sodium is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure in some people.
I find that by making my own foods I take in less sodium overall. It is sad that this many years after Dr. Atkins started this plan, the media still refuses to understand or believe that we do not live on bacon and processed meats. And who is to blame for those foods having the sodium in them to begin with? Grrrrr...
The best study to date on the subject found that even though low-carb dieters initially lose weight faster than low-fat dieters, at the end of a year, the two groups are neck-and-neck in the weight-loss race.
At the end of one year....wow a whole year they followed the LC vs Low Fat/HC diets? Let's poll the individuals on each of the plans and see who has more energy, feels healthier and stronger and wants to continue long term. I can guarantee it will be the low carb eater....because the low fat will be starving, miserable and deprived. They will be more likely to cheat on the plan and regain the weight with all of the sugar that is added into low fat foods. I shudder to think what life is like on the LF/HC "diet."
On the plus side, low-carb diets often do lower triglyceride levels nicely, and they may have a less pronounced effect on lowering HDL, which often happens on low-fat diets. So, if you have high triglycerides, a low-carb diet could lead to a substantial reduction in triglycerides and thus in total cholesterol, although it is unlikely to have a beneficial impact on LDL cholesterol.