Charlie Reid - Atkins Diet: America's Carbohydrate Prohibition!

[webmaster]

It seems like just in the last year or so, the Atkins diet has reached epidemic proportions. Needless to say, this scares me. I've researched the diet extensively and know a few things about ketogenic diets and the physiological effects they have on the body. So from there, let us take a journey…

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/atkinsdiet.htm

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Don't agree with many points of the article. Don't really want to go through all of them, but if you read FAQ on atkins.com, or the section about myths, then it would explain many concerns of the author. Just wanted to point out that humans developed in millions of years, and bread was invented only may be a few thousands years ago. Before that humans used to eat meat, fish, green vegetables and whatever else they find in a forest (berries, nuts), which exactly what this diet recommends at the beggining.

[DoctorX2k2]

Worst Article Ever...

[Kristopher]

pathetic attempt at debunking low carb, probably sponsored by the bakers society of america

see how much of it tried to debunk the whole low carb lifestyle based soley on dr.atkins so called "shadyness"

vote 2 for worst article ever

Originally posted by YOUR MOM
Humans evolution is just a theory

So what? There is scientific proof that humans existed for hundreds of thousands years, if not more. The earliest body parts found recently in Africa are something like 3mln years old and very much like human's.

And the diet is a matter of science, not faith, so you'd better stick to what scientists say, based on their research.

[IN10ZiTy]

even if man did not have breads and grains, they certainly didnt solely eat meat. their diets probably consisted mainly of greens, vegetables, fruits/berries, nuts, etc. Chances are that meat was probably harder to come by, therefore the majority of their calories came from the gathering of plant matter, not meat. Meat takes a lot more energy to kill in most cases, which is something that primitive man did not have a lot of to spare. Carbohydrates, be it vegetables and what not, probably made up most of their daily calorie intake. Dr. Atkins proposition of emphasizing low-glycemic carbs, vegetables and fruits is absolutely healthy, but restricting carbohydrates to as low as 20 grams a day is not healthy. Ketogenesis, either way you want to look at it, is not a natural state for the body to be in.

Sad attempt of an attack toward low-carb diets. The subtle way in which the author tries to add "doubt" in our minds is a joke! Then he has the nerve to discuss Atkins "supposed" health issues and tell us how he wishes not to insult our intellegence.

Basically, high carb diets are killing us --millions of us! What has years of low fat products on market shelves done for us, other than replace healthy fat with insulin inducing, teeth rotting sugar?

Body builders need only use carbs for usage to build muscle. It has been already proven that fat is meant as a prefered fuel! Ketones are "partially" burned fat molecules and are perfectly safe! I'm sick of Martha Stewart clones telling us all how "ketones are acid in the blood"! Absolute moot!

Carbs for all people are well-tasting and comforting, however they should be respected for what they "truly" are and used "very" sparingly and not abused. Again, if your a body builder, then understand that carbs are there for a "purpose" and are useful to build muscle, retaining etc.

Does anyone need bread to get all their fibre? Ever hear of vegi's which are often low in carbs? Why not eat those instead, if your so concerned about getting all your fibre and other vitamins.

Atkins and Protien Power Plan make it clear that we have been lied to or mislead and that high-insulin resistance is an EPIDEMIC which is killing us!

Lets see someone with balls step up to the plate the way Atkins has huh?

[ftmguy]

Anyone who uses the food pyramid as a guide for healthy eating is on crack. I hate all these people saying low carb is bad with nothing to back it up with. People that have been on a low carb diet for a long time and have gotten there blood work done have reported good HDL LDL levels and very good over all health. This article sucks and should be removed. It has no studies backing it. It's just some guy talking out his well you know.

[mrcard]

People like Charlie Reid bore me. If he would do some research on the matter before spouting off he might understand the effects that processed sugar has on the body, which it all really comes down to. Type II diabetes is on the rise and has been on the rise since the advention of this "process".

The first phase of the Adkins diet is the only part where you restrict carbs to 20 grams or less. Then you make wise choices on the types of carbs you will eat. This works very good.

Who said you cannot eat bread anyway? Bread that is not made with "processed" flour and that is full of grains is great for you. I do not think Dr. Adkins (God rest his soul) would disagree.

I am a little concerned that the marketing people have got a hold of this thing the way they have. Only time will tell if this is the solution to the 60% obesity rate in this country. We are Americans and people like Dr. Adkins’s are what made this country what it is today. It took time for people to accept what is truth and then change.

A+

Nice work Charlie...Yes people, cutting out an entire food group will in fact make you lose weight. Congratulations!

The number of things wrong with this article is too great to refute.

Atkins works - for a lot of people - including me. I lost 50 lbs. in 4 months and have kept it off for 15 months. And I regularly lift serious weights and ride serious distances on my bicycle.

[str8flexed]

Originally posted by Alex-bbuilder
Don't agree with many points of the article. Don't really want to go through all of them, but if you read FAQ on atkins.com, or the section about myths, then it would explain many concerns of the author. Just wanted to point out that humans developed in millions of years, and bread was invented only may be a few thousands years ago. Before that humans used to eat meat, fish, green vegetables and whatever else they find in a forest (berries, nuts), which exactly what this diet recommends at the beggining.

i'm so tired of this bull**** example. Our digestive systems are adapted just fine to handle carbohydrate intake and the body actually prefers carbohydrates to fat in terms of energy sources. Not saying ketogenic diets don't work, i'm just saying this "evolution" excuse everyone uses is crap

[Ragnarok]

Mostly crap. I would like to point out to everyone who is jumping on the "Atkins died of a heart attack from all that fat" wagon, doctors do not know what causes heart disease. For the past several years, studies have been done regarding heart disease and cholesterol. There does not appear to be a direct correlation between cholesterol levels and heart attacks.

One recent study questioned why, out of all their test subjects, did amost 50% of heart attacks occur in individuals with low cholesterol levels?

I could go ranting on forever. The article is garbage, do some research. I would also like to point out that the Atkins diet is hardly the "original" low-carb diet.

The Drinking Man's Diet was first published in 1964, by Robert Cameron, and it's basically the Atkin's diet, but allows lower-carb alcohol (hard-liquor). Mr. Cameron was a meat, meat, meat man. He is still alive today, at 93, and in seemingly good health, and quite trim

I am NOT an Atkins diet supporter, I don't think carbs are evil. However, the ridiculous claims made against the man are simply unfounded and untrue. I may not support his diet, but I also don't support the stupidity of the arguments made against him.

[IN10ZiTy]

i dont think he's saying you should just **** the atkins diet and go out and eat sugars and processed foods. Vegetables and whole grains should always be emphasized, just as in the atkins diet, and not forging a diet based on ding dongs and fruit snacks.

'"There is, however, another far healthier alternative: a low-fat diet that is rich, not in sugary, REFINED carbs, but in carbs of a different color -- fiber-filled, nutrient-packed, straight-from-the-earth carbs like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains such as oats, brown rice, and corn. These high-fiber carbs, known as unrefined carbs, cause no insulin overreaction. Unlike the low-fat, high-carb diets generically referred to by Mr. Taubes as causing an increase in triglyceride levels and other ills, low-fat, high-carb diets full of UNREFINED carbs have the most proven healthy effects of all diets." -From the Desk of Clarence Bass

http://www.cbass.com/Atkins.htm

there is no question of what kinds of carbs are best to be emphasized, but rather a question of severely limiting these carbs (especially for bodybuilders who need their glycogen levels to be restored after a workout). And i hardly think that eating a large plate of eggs and bacon can be good for cholesterol levels.

Still waiting for an authoritative article to debunk Atkins diet.
Did you even read the link in your article that explained what Atkins diet is?

[IN10ZiTy]

my point was that the atkins has its good points and then there are the bads...note: on my last post, i did not mean to assume that all atkins dieters eat eggs and bacon all the time

I find it hard to believe that the author has truly done his research on the Atkins Nutritional Approach (ANA).

Originally posted by Unregistered
The number of things wrong with this article is too great to refute.

Atkins works - for a lot of people - including me. I lost 50 lbs. in 4 months and have kept it off for 15 months. And I regularly lift serious weights and ride serious distances on my bicycle.

He never said Atkins didn't work, so what's your point?

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Unregistered
The number of things wrong with this article is too great to refute.

Atkins works - for a lot of people - including me. I lost 50 lbs. in 4 months and have kept it off for 15 months. And I regularly lift serious weights and ride serious distances on my bicycle.

Hey, register. How are we supposed to tell the difference between two unregistered users?

Like the OTHER unregistered said, no one claims the diet doesn't work, but is it, in the long run, really as beneficial as the masses would have you believe? I don't think so. Why is it with America, it's one extreme to the other. Low fat diet, constains small amounts of fats, then you have Atkins, which contains small amounts of carbs, etc., etc.

Why not try the 33.3/33.3/33.3 diet. Why the extremes?

Finally, in regards to the Atkins diet working for you, the reason it has worked so well is your exercise. Most American's are lazy, and just want to diet off the weight either without exercise, or with very ineffective exercise. Walking at a leisurely pace for 30 minutes on a treadmill is not going to give you any benefits, at least not as far as weight loss or maintenance.

Eggs are good, then eggs are bad, then eggs are good again, then only the whites are good, now egg whites including 1 yolk per week is good. It's ridiculous.

[IN10ZiTy]

i havent seen anyone back up their argument on being for the atkins diet either. All i've read so far is basically "he sucks" and "i dont have time to refute this", which doesnt do much for the credibility of the pro-atkins folks.

[Kristopher]

FACT: if you consume less calories than you burn you will lose weight

FACT: consuming good fat lowers LDL cholesterol


Why does everyone think the only low carb diet is Atkins, there are lots of low carb diets out there

another question i think we need to ask, why is there such an uproar about the low carb lifestyle??

remember when low fat diets were the "in" thing and low fat foods were coming out of every orifice the producers could think of? (low fat oil? cmon)
why was there not a huge controversy over the low fat lifestyle? it cut out one of the food groups as well, FAT, one of the most important hormone regulating macronutrients we need.

I THINK that the big deal is, LOW CARB DIETS WORK and the big corporations are afraid people will get skinny and not need their prescription drugs and not fill their hospitals with their obese asses. UH OH our profits are in trouble!! better try and make it seem like the low carb diets are bad for you.

The fact is, low fat, high carb diets are FAR unhealthier than any form of low carb diet.

and i think before some dickwad posts an article he should at least do some ****ing research.

dip****

[ftmguy]

Atkins works! Is it healthier to be 70 pounds over weight or eat a high fat diet and loss 50 lbs quick? It is better to use drugs to loss weight or eat a high fat diet? So many people out say his or that about keto diet and have never done the research. For a body builder a low carb diet has its place also like cutting season can anyone say CKD. For building muscle you need the carbs to put on any muscle at a fast rate.

Originally posted by str8flexed
i'm so tired of this bull**** example. Our digestive systems are adapted just fine to handle carbohydrate intake and the body actually prefers carbohydrates to fat in terms of energy sources. Not saying ketogenic diets don't work, i'm just saying this "evolution" excuse everyone uses is crap

Hey buddy, why don't you just try to understand what I'm trying to say first, before saying it's all "crap" and "bull****".

Evolution has nothing to do with it and forget about it.

What I meant was that eating meat, fish, green vegetables, berries and nuts is more healthy and natural than all that processed and full of chemicals and sugar stuff sold in supermarkets (including white bread, check it's ingredients and compare it with biblical times bread). The supermarkets didn't exists in biblical times.

I never said that our body is not adapted to eating carbs, or that it prefers fat.

str8flexed said:

[q]i'm so tired of this bull**** example. Our digestive systems are adapted just fine to handle carbohydrate intake and the body actually prefers carbohydrates to fat in terms of energy sources. Not saying ketogenic diets don't work, i'm just saying this "evolution" excuse everyone uses is crap.[/q]

Oh God, R U a NOOB Mod or something?

What proof do you have that our digestive systems prefer carbs over fat?

Actually, your completely wrong! I bet you can't name just ONE carborhydrate difficient disease?

There are many fat difficient diseases and many more protien lacking diseases as well.

Without fat, you would die, friend.
Without protien, you would die!

Without carbs, you'd be just fine as long as you are getting protein and fat containing the essential nutrients.

Do you think Eskimos are fat like shown on Sat. morning cartoons? Obviously, they are not and somehow manage to have lotsa energy.

Eskimos survive long winters on fat and protien alone and still suffer none of the high-blood sugar related illnesses of the advanced nations. In fact, they are much healthier becuase of the almost ZERO carb diet. This is a proven fact and no-one can dispute it!

In otherwords, what you were saying about our bodies preferring carbs over fat as energy, sounds ridiculous!

Humans survived pre-history and reached modern life by eating Protien and fat! Even rats and other critters will go for the meat first over carbs because the meat will keep you alive if barely, the carbs will not allow you to live very long. Humans of the past would treat the hunt for meat as an important ritual for survival becuase, instinctivly humans wanted to survive.

Pear or apple trees were not something early humans would celebrate over!

Our intestinal track is 99.99999% the same as it was millions of years ago. We can tolerate very few carbs. For example: Just cause your stomach is strong, or you have great genetics, does not mean carbs agree with your internal systems over fat.

How's this for evolution?

It will take millions of more years for our bodies to prefer carbs over fat, so why even bother to assume anything, when we really have not evolved much at all.

Our bodies still prefer protien and fat over carbs and not everyone is a bodybuilder, so they don't need any insulin spike!

BTW, many BB'd die anually because of high-blood sugar levels etc, go figure?

I wonder what the connection is?

[str8flexed]

Originally posted by Unregistered
str8flexed said:

[q]i'm so tired of this bull**** example. Our digestive systems are adapted just fine to handle carbohydrate intake and the body actually prefers carbohydrates to fat in terms of energy sources. Not saying ketogenic diets don't work, i'm just saying this "evolution" excuse everyone uses is crap.[/q]

Oh God, R U a NOOB Mod or something?

What proof do you have that our digestive systems prefer carbs over fat?

Actually, your completely wrong! I bet you can't name just ONE carborhydrate difficient disease?

There are many fat difficient diseases and many more protien lacking diseases as well.

Without fat, you would die, friend.
Without protien, you would die!

Without carbs, you'd be just fine as long as you are getting protein and fat containing the essential nutrients.

Do you think Eskimos are fat like shown on Sat. morning cartoons? Obviously, they are not and somehow manage to have lotsa energy.

Eskimos survive long winters on fat and protien alone and still suffer none of the high-blood sugar related illnesses of the advanced nations. In fact, they are much healthier becuase of the almost ZERO carb diet. This is a proven fact and no-one can dispute it!

In otherwords, what you were saying about our bodies preferring carbs over fat as energy, sounds ridiculous!

Humans survived pre-history and reached modern life by eating Protien and fat! Even rats and other critters will go for the meat first over carbs because the meat will keep you alive if barely, the carbs will not allow you to live very long. Humans of the past would treat the hunt for meat as an important ritual for survival becuase, instinctivly humans wanted to survive.

Pear or apple trees were not something early humans would celebrate over!

Our intestinal track is 99.99999% the same as it was millions of years ago. We can tolerate very few carbs. For example: Just cause your stomach is strong, or you have great genetics, does not mean carbs agree with your internal systems over fat.

How's this for evolution?

It will take millions of more years for our bodies to prefer carbs over fat, so why even bother to assume anything, when we really have not evolved much at all.

Our bodies still prefer protien and fat over carbs and not everyone is a bodybuilder, so they don't need any insulin spike!

BTW, many BB'd die anually because of high-blood sugar levels etc, go figure?

I wonder what the connection is?

NOOB? Yea I guess my BS in biochemistry qualifies me as a newbie. What evidence do I have? Probably the fact that when one ingests carbohydrates most fat oxidation processes are halted for a short period of time, instead the body opting to burn glucose. Damn you act like I insulted your family or religion, I never said low carb diets were bad, I just think the evolution excuse is ridiculous. In addition, during high intensity exertion the body relies almost exclusively on the anaerobic pathway (glucose) and performance substantially decreases when glycogen levels are too low. In addition, do you realize that long term exposure to high ketone levels can be toxic to the brain and increase oxidative stress? In addition, long term keto diets downregulate several kinases in the insulin signaling pathway including IRS-1, which leads to further resistance when one begins to consume carbs again. Our ancestors were not trying to take their bodies to the limits of physical prowess... they were just trying to survive. What is best for someone trying to get to 230 lbs at 7% bodyfat is certainly not the same as someone who is trying to find enough food to live on.

-Layne "NOOB "

[IN10ZiTy]

it never ceases to amaze me that with hostility often comes ignorance with a lot of people. Why dont we cut the anger and start arguing like rational human beings. Bringing emotion into things doesnt accomplish anything, it only sidetracks the purpose of these discussion boards: gifting each other with information so we can question, re-question, and further challenge our viewpoints. Nobody called anybody fat or said that they are going to hell for being on a low-carb diet, we are arguing for the sake of enlightenment and understanding.

[lucubration]

Originally posted by IN10ZiTy
i dont think he's saying you should just **** the atkins diet and go out and eat sugars and processed foods. Vegetables and whole grains should always be emphasized, just as in the atkins diet, and not forging a diet based on ding dongs and fruit snacks.

'"There is, however, another far healthier alternative: a low-fat diet that is rich, not in sugary, REFINED carbs, but in carbs of a different color -- fiber-filled, nutrient-packed, straight-from-the-earth carbs like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains such as oats, brown rice, and corn. These high-fiber carbs, known as unrefined carbs, cause no insulin overreaction. Unlike the low-fat, high-carb diets generically referred to by Mr. Taubes as causing an increase in triglyceride levels and other ills, low-fat, high-carb diets full of UNREFINED carbs have the most proven healthy effects of all diets." -From the Desk of Clarence Bass

http://www.cbass.com/Atkins.htm

there is no question of what kinds of carbs are best to be emphasized, but rather a question of severely limiting these carbs (especially for bodybuilders who need their glycogen levels to be restored after a workout). And i hardly think that eating a large plate of eggs and bacon can be good for cholesterol levels.

Amen.

As for the article; it wasn't very well founded but I agree with the sentiment wholeheartedly. As for St8flexed's hostility; is it well-founded? I think so!

str8flexed

Please accept my apology for calling you a "NOOB". It was not an accurate or pleasant thing to say, as you have shown much insight here and other places many times before. The article is what we are here to discuss; didn't mean to get off topic like that.

You made an interesting point regarding long term keto diets downregulating "several kinases in the insulin signaling pathway including IRS-1, which leads to further resistance when one begins to consume carbs again."

Much better point than ANY the author in the article made!

As for my question:

"I bet you can't name just ONE carborhydrate difficient disease?"

I can't name one disease myself, widespread or otherwise but in all fairness since this is a BB forum, a bodybuilder should not go without a decent amount of healthy carbs! Much higher than what many low-carb diets recommend.

Haters - all haters. Charlie Reid is just giving his opinion based on research. If you don't like it eat a f--king d--k!

Post your photos on the net and show people that you have the balls to use yourselves as pathetic posterboys for the deceased 250 pounder that you follow!! Carbs are your body's primary energy source. You want to neglect it then "ketones" to you too because Charlie definitely has a point with the ketosis problem.

I see mostly people over 40 & overweight who turn to this Atkins sh-t because they don't have the g-dd-mn balls to "say no" to Taco Bell, McDonald's, Burger King, etc. all for a quick "fad" solution that has become a retarded plague sweeping the nation today! And a lot of you retards probably fall into the same category! Big-boned is probably your excuse for being in the shape you're in. Ha!!

If you don't want to follow the food pyramid then why don't you just starve yourselves & die of lack of carbs as well as a lack of common sense. Nutrition should be a way of life not a "quick fix" as already mentioned.

Go ahead do Atkins! Next they'll be some Richard Simmons look-a-like WILL PROBABLY START advocating the use of cigarette smoking as a possible solution to weight-loss! You a-sh-les try anything new because you're too f--king lazy to earn a good-looking body or follow a healthy lifestyle eating plan!! You can't do anything on your own!

Stop trying to take the shortcut by cutting what your body uses because you'll be the next 250 pounder who "supposedly" dies from stumbling on some ice - which in itself sounds stupid in the first place! Think about it!

Moderation is the key you dummies!! All these Atkins-friendly menus going around are just a few ways for the restaurant industry to get into your pockets because they KNOW THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW THIS STUPID SHORT-TERM FIX!!

GET IT?!!

Keep on writing & educating these a-sh-les, Charlie Reid! I agree with you on the Ass-kins diet b-llsh-t! I'm Anti-Atkins all the way you a-sh-les! So eat a d--k if you don't like this article!!!

Nuff said!!!

[Kristopher]

CKD