Are low carb diets a bad idea?

[Blanche]

Perhaps Atkins' Diet is bad, dumb, crazy, stupid and nasty

Perhaps Atkins' Diet is bad, dumb, crazy, stupid and nasty

But, what of the other controlled carbohydrate diets? What of the Glycemic Index Developed by medical people for diabetics to control their disease? What of the numerous references that Back Doc posted?

Atkins is the best known, so we seem to base our disdain for low carb diets on the Atkins diet. But there are at lease 4 other low-carb diets that are not as restrictive as Atkins. What about the Medt diet, South Beach, and the others whose names skip my mind? The two low-carb diets that did not skip my mind are very similar and they both were developed by medical doctors whose work is well-known and fully established.

I hope those folks who have an open mind will take some time to read some or all of the numerous articles that the Back Doc has posted.

Blanche

 

[Karlynn]

You don't have to eat low-carb to lose weight and keep it off. Thousands of people have done it the safe way, successfully.

With all due respect, this is not true for many people - me being one of them. And you are implying that low carb eating is not safe. No carb eating is not safe. Please - before anyone comments any more on how unsafe low-carb eating is, please pick up a book that explains the issue in great scientific detail. South Beach (author?) or Protein Power by the Drs. Eades.

Until then - I think this issue should be ended. The originator of the post can take the advice and links we've all given and decide for themselves which works best.

 

[Superbob]

Wow -- so is "Diets" becoming the new "Valve Selection," in terms of heated discussion?

Superbob ain't getting into this fray. He just finished a doughnut and a latte, so he probably disqualified himself right there.

 

[Karlynn]

Wow -- so is "Diets" becoming the new "Valve Selection," in terms of heated discussion?

Superbob ain't getting into this fray. He just finished a doughnut and a latte, so he probably disqualified himself right there.

How much will you pay me not to report you to the Throw Down.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

No, SB, I think some people have a tendency to think in black and white and absolutes and then they make declarative statements to communicate their thinking. If something isn't all good, it must be all bad. There are certain things that all of us categorize that way - for me it's roaches and mosquitoes - definitely all bad.

As I said earlier, although low carb is probably not something I could commit to (although I did when I was gestational diabetic), if used wisely, it's not bad.

I planned to return to Weight Watchers on Monday with some of my cronies from work to lose the 10-15 pounds that came looking for me, but remembered that it's a holiday, so I guess I get to be a pig for another week! Hooray!

 

[BackDoc]

"The consequences are that your body will eventually use muscle as fuel instead of fat. Also, your body needs carbohydrates for energy."

absolutely 100% not true. The body burns fat as fuel when on a lower carb diet, not muscle. The body will burn muscle tissue when placed on a very low calorie "starvation" type of diet. The very same diet that so many use when they yo yo their weight up and down.
Please go back and re-read your biochemistry.

I have been placing my obese patients on South Beach for years. There weight drops, and so does their blood chemistry profiles.

I'm not advocating anything to anybody here. I am just pointing out that for the most part dieticians and medicine are both way behind the times when it comes to dietary advice. Low carb is no longer a fad.

Take the time to read the links I provided, do your own research and settle on what you feel is best for you.

especially read Gary Taubes:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E2D61F3EF934A35754C0A9649C8B63

read Dr. Barry Sears of "Zone Diet" fame.

Look at the Heartscan blog I linked to;
http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/
read with an open mind, then make up your own mind.

we can choose to be "patients" the rest of our lives, or we can begin to take responsibility for our own health and well being.

 

[Lynlw]

Why do you keep talking about Atkins when almost everyone here said they agree atkins is bad, but other low carb are not.
BTW I know someone asked before if you don't mind for your occupation you list
Pediatric Cardiology are you a doctor or a different member of the staff?

 

[Bridgette]

Healthy eating means everything in moderation, IMHO.

Don't pig out on fatty foods, heaps of white bread, chips (fries) etc.

Go for wholegrain, unprocessed/unrefined, fresh, natural, include all fruits and veges and watch your portions....and you shouldn't go far wrong.

Exercise, exercise, exercise.....

I don't care what eating plan people adhere to - if you think that low carb is the best for you, go wild. But don't bag people who don't subscribe to the theory, that's all.

Actually, what about those cultures (eg Asian) where rice is a major part of the diet - what do the experts say about their health and wellbeing? Just wondering....

 

[BackDoc]

"A big side effect of low-carb is feeling sluggish all the time. Who wants that"

I disagree with you again. A person might feel "slugish" for the first 2-3 days while their body is converting from carbohydrate metabolism to a fat burning metabolism. Then energy levels often become better then when the person was ingesting high amounts of carbs.
Check out Barry Sears, PhD..Zone Diet and his 40/30/30 breakdown.

as far as vegetarians; we see HDL levels drop. Not a good indicator. We often see triglyceride levels increase. Not a good indicator. We also often see LDL levels rise.

True; total LDL levels may also sometimes elevate on a lower carb diet, but that is only a part of the story. However, we also see HDL levels climb dramatically. We also see triglyercide levels drop dramatically. When the ratio of trigylercide to HDL is calculated we determine that the increase in total LDL is do the increase in "large fluffy" LDL--which are not harmful. The bad LDL are the small LDL particles. How many doctors test for this?? How many are even aware of the difference between large and small LDL particles?

No one is saying not to eat fruit, except on the 1st two weeks of the atkins inducation phase. Then lower glycemic fruits are allowed; if you haven't read the books please stop throwing down false information.

We can agree on points: high fructose corn syrup is bad and must be avoided. Exercise is important; 30 minutes a day.

as for the weight gain in the low carb group--of course once someone goes back to their old way of eating they will regain their weight.

Gastric bypass is the great hoax of our generation. I have multiple patients who have had this procedure, and to a person they remain obese, and suffer chronic malabsorption syndrome. Yet certain "medical" experts are touting this as the cure for type II diabetes??
They should be putting their efforts into studying the benefits of lower carb eating.

Are you aware that Dr. Agaston (South Beach Diet) came up with his plan in order to help his cardiac patients lose weight safely, then as a cardiologist noticed the positive changes in blood chemistry profiles these same patients were demonstrating when compared to his patients that were losing weight via other diet plans?

This is my last post on the topic because I don't want to turn this into an argument. I am just trying to respond to some of the myths and untruths that are out there. Atkins has not been proven to be unsafe. It may be too restrictive for many people as compared to the Zone or South Beach, but not harmful.
If you have information to the contrary, please provide me the links to the research.

 

[Nancy]

Come on folks, settle down. It's seems to be getting tense. I am sure there are pros and cons to every point of view. Don't let it get out of hand.

We need everyone here and the terrific information they impart to the site.

Please be kind to each other.

 

[Superbob]

Come on folks, settle down. It's seems to be getting tense. I am sure there are pros and cons to every point of view. Don't let it get out of hand.

We need everyone here and the terrific information they impart to the site.

Please be kind to each other.

Amen to what Nancy says! That is the point I was trying to make earlier in a light-hearted way. I am old enough to have seen (seemingly) hundreds of diet sensations come and go. They all have advocates as well as detractors. All sorts of information, pro and con, can be brought to the table. I just do not think it merits getting bent out of shape over.

 

[Karlynn]

Just to clarify a point - a low-carb diet does not mean a low calorie diet. You eat the amount of calories you need for optimum physical health. Low calorie diets tend to put the body in starvation mode. It hangs on to every calorie it can to protect it from famine. This is one of the reasons why it becomes more difficult to lose weight for yo-yo dieters. The body is programed to save itself.

I think the other thing that most wise diets (or ways of eating) recommend is eating several small meals, or have morning and afternoon healthy snacks. (This kind of goes hand in hand with the starvation mode theory.) This afternoon I had a handful of blueberried and a small handful of walnuts together. (I only mention this because it's a yummy combination.)

And drink lots of water.

 

[Dina]

This afternoon I had a handful of blueberried and a small handful of walnuts together. (I only mention this because it's a yummy combination.)

And drink lots of water.

TOO funny!! I had exactly the same lunch,except with two tbsp of
sugar free yogurt as a topping. And I drink lots of herbal teas or lemon
water. CHEERS

 

[Karlynn]

TOO funny!! I had exactly the same lunch,except with two tbsp of
sugar free yogurt as a topping. And I drink lots of herbal teas or lemon
water. CHEERS

Oo, that sounds good. Next time - a little yogurt on top!

 

[Nancy]

I just don't want anyone to leave over a "diet" thread! Love ya'll and want you here, fat, skinny, normal and abnormal We have a LOT of those!

 

[Jkm7]

UIHCHI and Back Doc.....

I would so appreciate if you would comment about Mediterranean Diet.
I ate South Beach for years successfully and have maintained a healthy weight doing so but have been eating closer to Mediterranean recently. Would you comment, please?

 

[Nancy]

Anyone watch Giada DeLaurentis on the Food Network. She cooks lots of things that would fall within the Mediterranean diet. She's pretty careful with fats (uses olive oil but sparingly) and salt and uses lots of veggies and light desserts.

Plus she's a skinny little thing.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/everyday-italian/index.html

 

[Blanche]

Facts speak louder than words

Facts speak louder than words

UIHCHI:

Now that we have gotten by all of your disclaimers, would you be kind enough to supply us with some facts that support your thesis...or is that anti-thesis.

You have hinted that you are a medical person, but have not specified what your position is. We have had several or more than several doctors here and each was wiling to provide their position, location and specialty. Do we really think that a large hospital gives a tinkers darn about one of their employees posting on this site?

The doctors that I know have an extremely wide range of information about all of the concerns that the human condition can muster. The smallest detail is in their vast bank of knowledge. Yet, you just state your opinion and do not support that opinion with research, facts, or any sort of evidence.

Again, remembering the doctors who have posted here. They had a magnificant command of the English language, especially the doctors who used English as a second language. If you suggest you are a doctor, may I suggest that you polish your English language skills. Second language users have more understanding of the English language than I have seen in your posts...

I think you are playing a nasty game here. Please, please show me that I am wrong.

Blanche

 

[Lynlw]

UIHCHI and Back Doc.....

I would so appreciate if you would comment about Mediterranean Diet.
I ate South Beach for years successfully and have maintained a healthy weight doing so but have been eating closer to Mediterranean recently. Would you comment, please?

I know you didn't ask me, BUT when I searched the Med diet (MY husband wants to lose weight) one of the first sites I found was from the Mayo clinic center recomending it since it is so heart healthy (I was kind of surprised) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mediterranean-diet/CL00011

 

[Karlynn]

I know you didn't ask me, BUT when I searched the Med diet (MY husband wants to lose weight) one of the first sites I found was from the Mayo clinic center recomending it since it is so heart healthy (I was kind of surprised) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mediterranean-diet/CL00011

Key components of the Mediterranean diet include:

* Eating a generous amount of fruits and vegetables
* Consuming healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
* Eating small portions of nuts
* Drinking red wine, in moderation, for Count me in!!!!
* Consuming very little red meat
* Eating fish on a regular basis Ugh - I really don't like fish

Maybe you have to take the good with the bad