The American Cancer Institute’s quest was to find out whether the advice given by popular diets and weight loss programs – about nutrition and weight loss – is based on scientific science. The Institute also wanted to evaluate the potential effectiveness and possible health risks associated with these diets. The Institute evaluated 4 books:
1. Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution by Dr. Robert Atkins.
2. The New Beverly Hills Diet by Judy mazel 7 Michael Wyatt.
3. Protein Power by Michael Eades, MD.
4. Get Skinny On Fabulous Food by Suzanne Somers
The American Cancer Institute concluded that ALL 4 plans are essentially low calorie diets, even though they were NOT advertised as such. Each one encourages the dieter to each as much as he/she wants of a particular food while still prescribing a daily caloric intake well below average requirements. All the diets also recommended omitting certain foods or even entire food groups resulting in major nutrient deficiencies. Dr. Atkins recommends supplementing his diet and conveniently offers his own line of products.
The diets lack a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat; and prescribe a daily intake high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates. This is a far cry from the recommendations by AICR, AHA, ADA, USDA and the Surgeon General.
Unbalanced diets also can lead to ketosis. Maintaining these diets causes a fasting state of the body, and the body starts metabolizing muscle tissue, NOT FAT! Symptoms include muscle breakdown, nausea, dehydration, headaches, light-headedness, irritability, bad breath and kidney problems. Long-term adherence to these diets can be fatal to the fetus of pregnant women and individuals with diabetes.
All 4 diets promote loss of water weight. The diuretic effect of high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate diets give a false sense of accomplishment. The water weight also returns quickly.
The American Cancer Institute also pointed out some significant other health risks while on these diets:
1. Long-term restriction of carbohydrates leads to lack of fiber causing constipation and GI-problems.
2. High amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat increase the risk of heart disease and some cancers.
3. High risk of osteoporosis because the excess protein leaches calcium from the bones.
4. Increased risk of Gout because of the increased intake of foods rich in purines (meat, poultry, nuts, seeds, eggs, seafood) cause an increase in uric acid levels in the body.
5. Uric acid and calcium oxalate stones formed by high protein diets can cause kidney stones.
6. High protein diets cause a significant loss of fluids and electrolytes, which may cause a rapid drop in blood pressure and fainting.
7. Bad breath can also occur as a result of an incomplete breakdown of fatty acids, also called “keto-breath”.
Join the Wellness Revolution
Conclusions by the American Cancer Institute:
The Atkins diet follows NO logic. Other cultures follow high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets. The diet is also UN-safe and most of the weight loss is due to its diuretic effect. The diet also has POOR real-world results in keeping the weight off!
Food-combining is a baseless idea. Food combining is eating specific foods in a specific order and at specific times. This “magical thinking” has no nutritional basis!
Popular notions are based on studying the chemistry of foods, and wrongly assume that sugary foods (candy, ice cream) that are composed of simple carbohydrates are absorbed immediately while starchier foods (bread, potatoes) provide long-term energy. We already established earlier that the exact opposite holds true.
All the above are some important subtleties and contradictions ignored by authors of popular diets.
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
Join the Wellness Revolution
Visit Dr. Mike’s Store for Health & Wellness Products
Related Articles
Tags: american cancer institute, american institute for cancer, breast cancer, cancer, cancer research, colon cancer, dieting, healthy dieting, lung cancer, Sensible Weight Loss
More book reviews please!
Comment by Brad — January 4, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
I’m reading the Atkins diet book right now and it’s pretty much what you said. Love this site!
Comment by Jan — January 4, 2010 @ 4:42 pm