The Atkins Diet Can Kill You

From The American Heart Association

http://www.americanheart.org/present...entifier=11234

High-Protein Diets

AHA Recommendation

The American Heart Association doesn't recommend high-protein diets
for weight loss. Some of these diets restrict healthful foods that
provide essential nutrients and don't provide the variety of foods
needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. People who stay on these
diets very long may not get enough vitamins and minerals and face
other potential health risks.

Background

Many Americans follow popular diets, such as the Atkins, Zone, Protein
Power, Sugar Busters and Stillman diets. Most of these diets aren't
balanced in terms of the essential nutrients our bodies need. Some are
high protein and emphasize foods like meat, eggs and cheese, which are
rich in protein and saturated fat. Some restrict important
carbohydrates such as cereals, grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat
dairy products. If followed for a long time, they can result in
potential health problems. And while they may result in quick weight
loss, more research is needed on the effectiveness for long-term
weight loss.

These diets can cause a quick drop in weight because eliminating
carbohydrates causes a loss of body fluids. Lowering carbohydrate
intake also prevents the body from completely burning fat. In the
diets that are also high in protein, substances called ketones are
formed and released into the bloodstream, a condition called ketosis.
It makes dieting easier because it lowers appetite and may cause
nausea.

But these diets have other effects besides inducing quick weight loss.
Most Americans already eat more protein than their bodies need. And
eating too much protein can increase health risks. High-protein animal
foods are usually also high in saturated fat. Eating large amounts of
high-fat foods for a sustained period raises the risk of coronary
heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer. People
who can't use excess protein effectively may be at higher risk of
kidney and liver disorders, and osteoporosis.

That's why the American Heart Association guidelines urge adults who
are trying to lose weight and keep it off to eat no more than 30
percent of total daily calories from fat and less than 10 percent from
saturated fat. On most high-protein diets, meeting these goals isn't
possible.

Some high-protein diets de-emphasize high-carbohydrate, high-fiber
plant foods. These foods help lower cholesterol when eaten as part of
a nutritionally balanced diet. Reducing consumption of these foods
usually means other, higher-fat foods are eaten instead. This raises
cholesterol levels even more and increases cardiovascular risk.

High-protein diets don't provide some essential vitamins, minerals,
fiber and other nutritional elements. A high-carbohydrate diet that
includes fruits, vegetables, nonfat dairy products and whole grains
also has been shown to reduce blood pressure. Thus, limiting these
foods may raise blood pressure by reducing the intake of calcium,
potassium and magnesium while simultaneously increasing sodium intake.

What's the best way to lose weight?

A healthy diet that includes a variety of foods and is rich in fresh
fruits and vegetables along with regular physical activity can help
most people manage and maintain weight loss for both cardiovascular
health and appearance. The American Heart Association urges people to
take a safe and proven route to losing and maintaining weight. By
paying attention to portion size and calories and following our
guidelines, you can enjoy healthy, nutritionally balanced weight loss
for a lifetime of good health.

---------------------------------------------


From: http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/06-23a-04.asp

Low Carb food with lack of HDL supplying nutrition can kill you slowly
Dr. Sanjeev Patil, Special Correspondent
June 23, 2004

HDL – the good cholesterol provides the “life” in human beings. HDL
acts as the garbage truck to clean the bad cholesterol from the human
body. The ratio of bad to good cholesterol is what keeps your body
functioning for long years. If you have a high HDL level (related to
heredity), you can eat some bad cholesterol and still you are not
abusing your body. If you avoid wheat, whole grain food, orange juice,
fruits and nuts, you are depriving yourself from HDL supplying
nutrients. That is almost killing oneself slowly.

Popular low-carbohydrate diets are leading Americans to poor health
and spawning a rip-off industry of "carb-friendly" products, health
experts and consumer advocates have said.
They announced a new group, called the Partnership for Essential
Nutrition, to help educate Americans about the need for healthy
carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains.
"When unproven science becomes a sales pitch, some people get rich and
the rest of us get ripped off," Jeffrey Prince of the American
Institute for Cancer Research told a news conference.
"Eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans, which are all
predominantly carbohydrate, is linked to a reduced risk of cancer,
heart disease, stroke, diabetes and a range of other chronic
diseases."
Prince said low-carb diets that advocate piling on the animal protein
and fat are "increasing the risk of developing cancer, heart disease,
stroke, type-2 diabetes and other chronic diseases".
The new group includes such organizations as the Alliance for Aging
Research, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the AICR and
the American Obesity Association.
Its Web site at http://www.essentialnutrition.org/ is especially
critical of programs, such as the Atkins diet, that advocate throwing
the body into a condition called ketosis. During this phase the body
sheds water as it tries to get rid of excess protein and fat-breakdown
products.
"Losing weight on these extreme low-carb diets can lead to such
serious health problems as kidney stress, liver disorders and gout,"
the group advises.
Atkins rebuttal
Dr. Stuart Trager, Medical Director for Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.,
said the Atkins diet is healthy.
"In fact, the Atkins Nutritional Approach includes spinach, eggplant,
broccoli, asparagus and leafy greens, in addition to other high-fiber
vegetables and fruits," Trager said in a statement. "Even during
induction, Atkins requires five servings of vegetables and/or fruits a
day."
The new group published a survey of 1,017 adults, done by Opinion
Research Corporation, that showed 19 percent of dieters are trying to
cut carbs.
The survey found that 47 percent them believed that low-carb diets can
help them lose weight without cutting calories.
"They are confused. They lack an understanding of the basic science,"
Barbara Moore, president of Shape Up America, told the news
conference.
She said a "trickle-down effect" meant other Americans were now eating
fewer fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.
When unproven science becomes a sales pitch, some people get rich and
the rest of us get ripped off. -- Jeffrey Prince, American Institute
for Cancer Research

The U.S. government, American Heart Association, American Cancer
Society, National Cancer Institute and American Diabetes Association
all recommend getting at least five servings a day of fruits and
vegetables. They also recommend eating plenty of whole grains.
The National Consumers League said it found dieters were spending an
average of $85 a month on so-called low-carbohydrate products,
although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate or
regulate low-carb claims.
"Consumers are paying a premium price for a carb-friendly lifestyle,"
said Alison Rein of the National Consumers League.
She called for the FDA, U.S, Department of Agriculture and other
agencies to issue immediate guidelines on such claims.
Studies show that a low-carbohydrate approach can cause people to lose
weight more quickly than a low-fat diet for the first six months, but
the low-fat approach catches up after a year.

wrote:

From The American Heart Association

http://www.americanheart.org/present...entifier=11234

High-Protein Diets

AHA Recommendation

The American Heart Association doesn't recommend high-protein diets
for weight loss.

Good. Atkins is a high fat diet.

gtoomey

"The National Consumers League said it found dieters were spending an
average of $85 a month on so-called low-carbohydrate products,
although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate or
regulate low-carb claims. "

I guess the AHA and the National Consumers League are more worried
about folks spending $85 on low carb products than they are on folks
spending $85 on crap loaded with sugar and flour. And if their ideas
of controlling weight and what foods are healthy are right and can
actaully work for any significant part of the population, why is
obesity in the population getting worse?

wrote in message
oups.com...
"The National Consumers League said it found dieters were spending an
average of $85 a month on so-called low-carbohydrate products,
although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate or
regulate low-carb claims. "

I guess the AHA and the National Consumers League are more worried
about folks spending $85 on low carb products than they are on folks
spending $85 on crap loaded with sugar and flour. And if their ideas
of controlling weight and what foods are healthy are right and can
actaully work for any significant part of the population, why is
obesity in the population getting worse?

How about the trans fats? They don't seem to worry themselves about that
either.

And one more thing about the AHA and everyone else bitching about
Atkins. One of their big complaints is that the Atkins diet has too
much fat. What they apparently choose to focus on is the percentage
of fat and then it is always taken out of context by looking at levels
during weight loss, especially induction, which can be as short as two
weeks. Have they ever looked at how much fat someone in maintenance
consumes and how that compares to the amount of fat consumed by a
typical person, or better yet, by a person who is obese? I think if
you look at how much fat an obese person was eating previously and
compared it to how much fat they are eating having reached maintenance,
it would look pretty good. But the AHA would rather strive for the
utopian goal of people losing weight by restricting fat and calories,
despite
that mere mortals have shown time and time again they are incapable of
achieving it that way, instead of having someone no longer obese and
eating a far less total amount of fat than they did before.

wrote:

"The National Consumers League said it found dieters were spending an
average of $85 a month on so-called low-carbohydrate products,
although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate or
regulate low-carb claims. "

I guess the AHA and the National Consumers League are more worried
about folks spending $85 on low carb products than they are on folks
spending $85 on crap loaded with sugar and flour.

Chortle! Eighty-five bucks buys a LOT of broccolli and steak.

And if their ideas
of controlling weight and what foods are healthy are right and can
actaully work for any significant part of the population, why is
obesity in the population getting worse?

Because their ideas are wrong. Oh wait, that's what you already
said. ;^) Good job.

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14 Suppl:S120.

High glycemic index carbohydrate mediates an acute proinflammatory
process as measured by NF-kappaB activation.

Dickinson S, Hancock DP, Petocz P, Brand-Miller JC.

School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney,
NSW, 2006.

Background - Some high-carbohydrate diets may increase the risk of
cardiovascular disease (CVD) by promoting hyperglycemia, oxidative
stress, endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation. In this
context, the classification of carbohydrates according to their
postprandial effects (ie the glycemic index, GI) may be relevant to
prevention and management of CVD. Objectives - The present study was
designed to detect differences in postprandial NF-kappaB activation (an
acute inflammatory marker) in mononuclear cells and nitrotyrosine
levels (a marker of oxidative stress) after high vs low GI meals in 10
lean, young, healthy European Caucasian subjects (5 male, 5 female)
matched for age, BMI, waist circumference, diet and physical activity.
Design - A 50 g portion of a high GI (white bread) was compared with an
isoenergetic, macronutrient-matched portion of a low GI food (pasta)
consumed in random order after an overnight fast. Glycaemia,
insulinemia, NF-kappaB and nitrotyrosine levels were determined at 0,
60, 120 and 180 min and quantitated using the area under the curve
(AUC). Outcome - Glycemia and insulinemia were within the normal range
but 3- and nearly 4-fold higher respectively after the bread meal
compared with the pasta meal. As hypothesised, the NF-kappaB response
was 3-fold greater after the bread meal (mean +/- SEM: 69 +/- 16
optical density (OD) h) compared with the pasta meal (23 +/- 4.7 OD h).
Nitrotyrosine levels increased after the bread meal (0.67 +/- 0.49
nmoles/L) and decreased after the pasta (-0.81 +/- 0.30 nmoles/L) but
the difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion - The
present study shows that high GI carbohydrate, but not low GI
carbohydrate, mediates an acute proinflammatory process as measured by
NF-kappaB activity. Blunting postprandial glycemia via low GI
carbohydrate may lower CVD risk.

PMID: 16326481 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...81&query_hl=16

wrote:
From The American Heart Association

http://www.americanheart.org/present...entifier=11234

High-Protein Diets

AHA Recommendation

The American Heart Association doesn't recommend high-protein diets
for weight loss. Some of these diets restrict healthful foods that
provide essential nutrients and don't provide the variety of foods
needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. People who stay on these
diets very long may not get enough vitamins and minerals and face
other potential health risks.

This American Heart Association?

http://cspinet.org/integrity/nonprof...sociation.html

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

The AHA offers food manufacturers a food certification program,
labeling with the Association's "heart-check mark" foods that are
low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. To cover the costs of
administering the program, the AHA charges companies on a per product
basis $7,500 for 1-9 products, $6,750 for 10-24 products and $5,940 for
25-99 products in their first year. To renew in subsequent years, the
prices are $4,500, $4,050, and $3,570 respectively. (Email from Wilma
Davis to CSPI, written 5/22/03; on file at CSPI) CSPI estimates that in
2002, with over 630 products certified, the AHA received over $2
million from its food certification program.
(http://216.110.59.27/productlist.aspx; accessed 5/22/03)

Merck is spending $400,000 to finance an AHA program teaching 40,000
doctors to treat cholesterol according to guidelines. (Wall Street
Journal, 6/14/98)

American Heart Association was paid $450,000 by the Florida grapefruit
growers for exclusive grapefruit use of the Association's
heart-healthy endorsement. (Phila. Inquirer, 5/7/97)

American Heart Association has received $1.1 million (and an annual
renewal potential of about $300,000) from food manufacturers as license
fees to use the "heart check mark." (Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/7/97)

AHA charges $2,500 (plus a yearly renewal charge of $650) for a company
to put the association's heart-check symbol on a package. Florida
Dept. of Citrus paid $450,000 for exclusive promotion and advertising
contract from 1994 until early 1997. The National Cattlemen's Beef
Association paid $25,000 for its arrangement with the AHA to promote
lean cuts of beef. For an agreement with ConAgra in 1992-93, the AHA
received $3,500,000 for a TV program on nutrition. For companies that
want an exclusive agreement with the AHA like that of the Florida
citrus growers, the cost is $55,000 a quarter or $200,000 a year.
Without exclusivity the cost is $25,000 a quarter or $90,000 a year.
(New York Times, 10/22/97)

National Livestock and Meat Board gave $189,000 to the AHA to sponsor
the HeartRide cycling series. AHA says the program will help ensure
that people don't think that AHA recommends abstaining from meat.
(IEG Sponsorship Report, on file at CSPI)

American Heart Association has endorsed only Bayer aspirin. (New
England Journal of Medicine, 9/4/97, p. 700) According to Kramer
Laboratories, Inc. (Miami), "Bayer, as we understand it, contributes
over $500,000 a year to the American Heart Association." (Letter to
AHA, 9/23/96) Web site is sponsored by Pfizer, Campbell, ConAgra
(Healthy Choice), and Hoechst (Tufts Nutrition Navigator web site).

Corporate Contributors greater than $25,000 (partial list)

Adelphia Media Services
Aetna
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
American Airlines
Anchorage Daily News
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Arthur Andersen LLP
AstraZeneca LP
AT&T Broadband
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Averitt Express Associate Charities
Bank One Trust
Bank of America
Bayer Corporation
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
California Casualty
California Walnut Commission
Carolinas Hospital System
Centennial Medical Center
Clear Channel Communications
Conemaugh Health System
Conoco
Cox Communications
Dallas Business Journal
Diageo
Dominion
Duke University Health System
Ernst & Young LLP
Federal Express
Fidelity Investments
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fox Memphis
Fox Sports Net
GE Medical Systems
General Mills, Inc.
General Motors
Genzyme Biosurgery
GlaxoSmithKline
HCA Hospitals
HealthAmerica
HealthSouth Corporation
Heinz Frozen Food Company
Highmark
Home Depot
Humana
Image III, Inc.
INOVA Health System
International Game Technology
John Hancock Financial
Jon Holden DeHaan Foundation
JPMorgan Chase
Kaiser Permanente
Kroger
Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network - Pennsylvania
LifeBridge Health
Mapco Express
Marriott International, Inc.
MasterCard International
MBNA America
Medical University of South Carolina
Medicine Shoppe International, Inc.
MedStar Health
Medtronic, Inc.
Mellon Financial Corporation
Mercedes-Benz, USA, LLC
Merck & Co., Inc.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Omron Healthcare, Inc.
OPI Products, Inc.
PacifiCare
Pantene
Partners Healthcare Systems
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
Pfizer, Inc.
Philips Medical Systems
Procter & Gamble Company
Qantas Airways
Random House, Inc.
Redken 5th Avenue
Regal Cinemas
Regence Blue Shield
Safeway, Inc.
Sankyo Pharma
Sanofi-Synthelabo
Schering-Plough Corporation
Scios, Inc.
SETON Healthcare Network
Solvay Pharmaceuticals
Southwest Gas Corporation
Subway
Swedish Heart Institute
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Target
Tenet HealthSystem
The Eli Lilly and Company Foundation
The Business Press
The Home Depot
The Delaware River and Bay Authority
Time Warner Cable
Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield
TriStar Health System
Tyco International, Inc.
United Healthcare
University of Maryland Medical System
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Verizon
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
Walgreen Co.
Westlaw Public Records
Woodruff Health Sciences Center
Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals
(American Stroke Association / American Heart Association - Ten Ways We
are Working for You in Your Community, 2002 annual report,
http://www.americanheart.org/downloa...eport_2002.pdf)

*************

You've been had. The AHA is interested in making money for these
sponsors. You, as a consumer, mean nothing to them other than a
potential customer for their crap manufactured foods and their
pharmaceuticals. They are not interested in what a healthy diet is.

TC

Yikes! I didn't know all that! Pretty disgusting.

Thanks, TC.

HG

wrote in message
ups.com...

wrote:
From The American Heart Association

http://www.americanheart.org/present...entifier=11234

High-Protein Diets

AHA Recommendation

The American Heart Association doesn't recommend high-protein diets
for weight loss. Some of these diets restrict healthful foods that
provide essential nutrients and don't provide the variety of foods
needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. People who stay on these
diets very long may not get enough vitamins and minerals and face
other potential health risks.

This American Heart Association?

http://cspinet.org/integrity/nonprof...sociation.html

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

The AHA offers food manufacturers a food certification program,
labeling with the Association's "heart-check mark" foods that are
low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. To cover the costs of
administering the program, the AHA charges companies on a per product
basis $7,500 for 1-9 products, $6,750 for 10-24 products and $5,940 for
25-99 products in their first year. To renew in subsequent years, the
prices are $4,500, $4,050, and $3,570 respectively. (Email from Wilma
Davis to CSPI, written 5/22/03; on file at CSPI) CSPI estimates that in
2002, with over 630 products certified, the AHA received over $2
million from its food certification program.
(http://216.110.59.27/productlist.aspx; accessed 5/22/03)

Merck is spending $400,000 to finance an AHA program teaching 40,000
doctors to treat cholesterol according to guidelines. (Wall Street
Journal, 6/14/98)

American Heart Association was paid $450,000 by the Florida grapefruit
growers for exclusive grapefruit use of the Association's
heart-healthy endorsement. (Phila. Inquirer, 5/7/97)

American Heart Association has received $1.1 million (and an annual
renewal potential of about $300,000) from food manufacturers as license
fees to use the "heart check mark." (Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/7/97)

AHA charges $2,500 (plus a yearly renewal charge of $650) for a company
to put the association's heart-check symbol on a package. Florida
Dept. of Citrus paid $450,000 for exclusive promotion and advertising
contract from 1994 until early 1997. The National Cattlemen's Beef
Association paid $25,000 for its arrangement with the AHA to promote
lean cuts of beef. For an agreement with ConAgra in 1992-93, the AHA
received $3,500,000 for a TV program on nutrition. For companies that
want an exclusive agreement with the AHA like that of the Florida
citrus growers, the cost is $55,000 a quarter or $200,000 a year.
Without exclusivity the cost is $25,000 a quarter or $90,000 a year.
(New York Times, 10/22/97)

National Livestock and Meat Board gave $189,000 to the AHA to sponsor
the HeartRide cycling series. AHA says the program will help ensure
that people don't think that AHA recommends abstaining from meat.
(IEG Sponsorship Report, on file at CSPI)

American Heart Association has endorsed only Bayer aspirin. (New
England Journal of Medicine, 9/4/97, p. 700) According to Kramer
Laboratories, Inc. (Miami), "Bayer, as we understand it, contributes
over $500,000 a year to the American Heart Association." (Letter to
AHA, 9/23/96) Web site is sponsored by Pfizer, Campbell, ConAgra
(Healthy Choice), and Hoechst (Tufts Nutrition Navigator web site).

Corporate Contributors greater than $25,000 (partial list)

Adelphia Media Services
Aetna
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
American Airlines
Anchorage Daily News
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Arthur Andersen LLP
AstraZeneca LP
AT&T Broadband
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Averitt Express Associate Charities
Bank One Trust
Bank of America
Bayer Corporation
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
California Casualty
California Walnut Commission
Carolinas Hospital System
Centennial Medical Center
Clear Channel Communications
Conemaugh Health System
Conoco
Cox Communications
Dallas Business Journal
Diageo
Dominion
Duke University Health System
Ernst & Young LLP
Federal Express
Fidelity Investments
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fox Memphis
Fox Sports Net
GE Medical Systems
General Mills, Inc.
General Motors
Genzyme Biosurgery
GlaxoSmithKline
HCA Hospitals
HealthAmerica
HealthSouth Corporation
Heinz Frozen Food Company
Highmark
Home Depot
Humana
Image III, Inc.
INOVA Health System
International Game Technology
John Hancock Financial
Jon Holden DeHaan Foundation
JPMorgan Chase
Kaiser Permanente
Kroger
Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network - Pennsylvania
LifeBridge Health
Mapco Express
Marriott International, Inc.
MasterCard International
MBNA America
Medical University of South Carolina
Medicine Shoppe International, Inc.
MedStar Health
Medtronic, Inc.
Mellon Financial Corporation
Mercedes-Benz, USA, LLC
Merck & Co., Inc.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Omron Healthcare, Inc.
OPI Products, Inc.
PacifiCare
Pantene
Partners Healthcare Systems
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
Pfizer, Inc.
Philips Medical Systems
Procter & Gamble Company
Qantas Airways
Random House, Inc.
Redken 5th Avenue
Regal Cinemas
Regence Blue Shield
Safeway, Inc.
Sankyo Pharma
Sanofi-Synthelabo
Schering-Plough Corporation
Scios, Inc.
SETON Healthcare Network
Solvay Pharmaceuticals
Southwest Gas Corporation
Subway
Swedish Heart Institute
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Target
Tenet HealthSystem
The Eli Lilly and Company Foundation
The Business Press
The Home Depot
The Delaware River and Bay Authority
Time Warner Cable
Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield
TriStar Health System
Tyco International, Inc.
United Healthcare
University of Maryland Medical System
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Verizon
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
Walgreen Co.
Westlaw Public Records
Woodruff Health Sciences Center
Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals
(American Stroke Association / American Heart Association - Ten Ways We
are Working for You in Your Community, 2002 annual report,
http://www.americanheart.org/downloa...eport_2002.pdf)

*************

You've been had. The AHA is interested in making money for these
sponsors. You, as a consumer, mean nothing to them other than a
potential customer for their crap manufactured foods and their
pharmaceuticals. They are not interested in what a healthy diet is.

TC

Hannah Gruen wrote:
Yikes! I didn't know all that! Pretty disgusting.

Thanks, TC.

HG

That is only the tip of the iceberg. See:

http://cspinet.org/integrity/nonprofits/index.html

Industry has pretty much bought out all the major non-profits that have
any sway in public policy and opinion. The non-profits are no longer
working for the betterment of the world, they are working to help make
more money for the food and pharma industries.

TC