Low Carb-ers: Self Imposed
Weight Loss Guinea Pigs, Ground Breakers and the Health
Conscious Today
It's a well known fact that the weight
loss industry is a profitable one. There are thousands
of books, gyms and health spas, nutrition and exercise
services available to the overweight consumer and
the net is riddled with them.
If the consumer is not receiving advise from a dietition
or doctor, it is up to them to verify for themselves
what is fact and what is fiction. For many years,
the low carb establishment has maintained that you
can lose weight by changing the amount and in some
cases the types of carbs, protein and fats consumed.
And for many years the mainstream medical establishment
has scoffed at the Atkins weight loss theory of losing
weight through ketosis not through maintaining a negative
calorie balance and labelled it irresponsible and
unhealthy.
There are cries of cardiovascular and cholesterol
risks not just because of the red meat, but because
of the lower carbohydrate and therefore lower fiber
intake recommended. Many authorities will not recommend
it as a viable weight loss solution, and indeed is
censored by relevant government authorities in many
countries. Despite the bad press, there have been
thousands of reported cases of individuals losing
weight by eating more protein and fewer carbohydrates.
During the last couple of years, findings of research
have been filtering through that there may be some
merit to the low carb diets, that have been promoted
in weight loss books and websites. Atkins press releases
seize the opportunity to validate what they've been
saying for years.
Some would say (particularly dietitions and nutritionists)
that the people who joined the low-carb band wagon
were naive, unkowledgeable and ready to try anything.
There are those who have taken aspects of the low
carb diets out of context and have done silly things
like eating nothing but pork rinds and Atkins bars
and wandered why they weren't losing weight. This
is the danger of popular diet books where no individual
professional support can be given.
However, to be fair, many low carb-ers today are
forward thinking, health conscious (not just weight
conscious) and intelligent and logical thinkers and
do receive some support as I believe there is an Atkins
telephone helpline available to U.S. residents, which
if you're interested is 1-800-2-ATKINS. As to whether
this is purely a promotional tool or truely a helpline,
I am not sure.
For many low carb-ers eating a low carb diet is similar
to eating the way we did years ago before we had access
to soda and bagels in mass proportions. Now, I am
not an advocate of low carb diets, in fact I don't
recommend "cookie cutter" diets, but I do
see that for many, it is providing welcome relief
to stubborn weight and health problems that previously
have been difficult to treat, and that independent
research is starting to support the results that have
been seen in thousands of low carb success testimonials.
As a side note, I feel I must add, if you're new
to the diet scene and assessing whether or not low
carb eating is for you, I do have one word of warning,
please be aware that research findings can be manipulated
and that findings of research that have been funded
by commercial interests such as those within the low
carb community may not be as impartial as it appears.
I am not saying that their research isn't impartial
or accurate, but to be really sure, a truly independent
study should not have links to interested commercial
parties.
References:
Due A, Toubro S, Skov AR, Astrup A. Effect of normal-fat
diets, either medium or high in protein, on body weight
in overweight subjects: a randomised 1-year trial.
Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Oct;28(10):1283-90.
Atkins Press Release July 2004: Controlled-carbohydrate
research from around the world.
USA Today: E.J. Mundell, HealthDay 10/29/2004 Low-carb
diets may hurt heart health
Copyright © 2004 Jenny Mathers All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
Research is the only objective way of finding out
what really works. To research low carb findings visit
Savvy Fat Burning Foods
