"Steven C. \(Doktersteve\)" wrote in message news:Fiexb.501120$6C4.110756@pd7tw1no...
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/...s.asp?id=26538

The student who wrote this needs a class in basic logic:


If you're one of the many college students trying to shed a few pounds, you
might be thinking about going on a diet.

Maybe you're fighting the freshman 15 or you just want to turn a few heads
at Venice Beach. Whatever your reason, you've probably heard of the Atkins
diet - the low-carbohydrate, high-protein and high-fat diet created by
cardiologist Robert Atkins 30 years ago.

The regimen instructs dieters to throw the low-fat adages out with all their
breads and pastas, and encourages people to eat as much bacon and eggs as
they wish.

During the first two weeks dieters eat no more than 20g of carbs -
equivalent to a single slice of bread or a serving of corn. Later, the carb
level is increased slightly until weight loss stops. There are no limits on
protein or fat.

Surprisingly, recent studies show that the Atkins diet works - at least for
a while. Although participants eat high-fat meals, they actually lose weight
more quickly on the Atkins diet than on a low-fat diet.

But is it really possible to eat fatty foods and be thinner?

In April, the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at all the
studies available and found people lost weight on the diet because they ate
fewer calories altogether even though more of their calories came from fat.
Protein is more filling than carbohydrates, which probably helps people on
the Atkins diet feel less hungry.

This is a bad thing?


But before you rush out for 4x4 cheeseburgers at In-N-Out, you should know
there are some definite drawbacks. Eating less fruit and whole grains means
missing out on cancer-fighting benefits of anti-oxidants and fiber.

Atkins permits lots of veggies with fiber and anti-oxidants.
Try doing some research, Mr. College Student.


Eating lots of protein can decrease the amount of calcium in your bones,
increasing your risk for osteoporosis later in life. Calcium loss is even
more of a concern while you're in college because you gain most of your bone
mass before you reach 30. Increased levels of fat and protein are also
linked to kidney stones and kidney problems. Other minor problems include
constipation and bad breath.

Physicians are most concerned about the high amount of saturated fat in the
diet. Saturated fat, which is especially high in red meat and dairy
products, contributes to heart attacks and other heart diseases. However, a
study in the May New England Journal of Medicine shows the effects of the
diet on the heart may not be so bad.

Even though more of their calories come from fat, Atkins dieters eat
slightly less fat overall than they do regularly, and cholesterol levels
actually improved more in individuals on the Atkins diet than in those on a
traditional low-fat regimen.

The fact that high-fat diet improves cholesteral levels more than a
low-fat diet should cause one to start doubting the claim that saturated
fats increase cholesterol. If the data doesn't support the theory,
something's wrong with the theory.



If you want to try a low-carb diet, a healthier version may involve getting
most of protein from chicken, fish, and nuts, which contain less saturated
fat.

BUT YOU JUST WROTE IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH THAT THE ATKINS DIET
IMPROVED CHOLESTEROL LEVELS MORE THAN A LOW FAT DIET, AND NOW
YOU'RE RECOMMENDING REDUCING FAT ANYWAY???
WTF???

Keep in mind, though, that the Atkins diet, like all diets, is not
great at helping you lose weight or stay healthy in the long-term.

After one year, the New England Journal study found the average amount of
weight loss on the Atkins diet was small, only about 4.5 percent after a
year. By then, four out of 10 of those on the Atkins diet had dropped it,
and those still on the low-carb diet actually gained back about half the
weight they lost.

Diets are short-term and, unfortunately, so is the weight loss associated
with them. The best way to really make a long-term impact on your health is
to incorporate small changes in diet along with an exercise plan that you're
comfortable with.

Check out the Student Nutrition Action Committee
(www.studenthealth.ucla.edu/snac) at the Ashe Center for nutritional tips
and body image and fitness workshops.