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Supporters and detractors of the popular Atkins diet have recently engaged in numerous high-profile arguments in the media. We don't presume to be weight-loss experts, but we'll try to summarize the pros and cons of the diet so you can make a decision for yourself. For the Atkins story, we headed straight to the source. To begin with, the Atkins Center no longer calls its program the Atkins Diet -- the preferred term is "the Atkins Nutritional Approach," which is supposed to be a life-long approach to eating. Dr. Robert C. Atkins and his followers blame carbohydrates for weight gain. Carbohydrates are organic compounds that include sugars, starches, celluloses,
and gums and serve as a major energy source in our diet. Grains, pastas, fruits, and starchy vegetables like potatoes are the most common carbohydrate foods. According to Atkins, if you cut the carbs, you'll drop the pounds. The Atkins system claims to switch your body from a carbohydrate-burning metabolism to a primarily fat-burning metabolism. Atkins is also highly critical of sugar and recommends eliminating it from your diet. Instead of carbs and sugar, Atkins eaters are allowed plenty of fat and protein. The system specifically recommends animal proteins and notes that vegetarians and vegans will have a hard time following Atkins. Critics say meat-heavy, high-protein eating patterns -- such as that espoused by Atkins -- are linked to osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, and renal disease. An analysis of sample Atkins meals found the diet was not only high in protein and low in carbs, but very high in saturated fat and cholesterol, very low in fiber, and below the recommended daily values for several vitamins and minerals. The American Heart Association (AHA) does not recommend high-protein
diets for weight loss. According to the AHA, diets like the Atkins system aren't proven effective for long-term weight loss. They point out that these diets restrict healthy foods that provide essential nutrients. The AHA asserts that most Americans already eat more protein and fat than their bodies need, and eating a high-protein, high-fat diet raises the risk of many types of disease. Dr. Dean Ornish espouses a middle-of-the-road approach to dieting. He states high-protein diets may work in the short term because some of their principles are accurate. Americans do eat too many simple carbohydrates like sugar, white flour, and white rice, according to Ornish. The body absorbs simple carbs quickly, causing blood sugar to spike
and provoking an insulin response that speeds the conversion of calories to fat. Reducing sugar and processed grains can aid in weight loss. Ornish proposes eating a high-fiber diet that replaces simple carbohydrates with complex carbs like whole wheat, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, and legumes in their natural forms.
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