Thu, Jan 08 2004

Didn't Atkins Have An Unhealthy Heart Too?

I meet people almost every day who still think this meat-laden, low-carb diet regime is not at all risky. Yet when I mention that they'd better have a very healthy heart and kidneys if they're on it, they look at me with big eyes and say, "Really? Why?"

Find out why, please. It could save your life. Check into the physiology of what happens when you restrict carbohydrates from your system and what happens when you pile on the protein. Here's one tiny bit of information on the (lack of) long-term effects from the Atkins diet, for instance. It seems that there really is very little information in this area, because people don't seem to stay on the diet for long periods of time. This article mentions dehydration. These low-carb diets all seem to recommend drinking copious amounts of water, so why are people becoming dehydrated? Something is wrong. If you still opt for a high-protein, low-carb diet after reading all the material you can get your hands on, at least you've made an informed choice. But do educate yourself before you leap headlong into something that could give you (for instance) heart palpitations and renal failure.

posted at: 11:00 | category: /Science | link to this entry