Guest guest Posted January 12, 2002 Report Share Posted January 12, 2002 Any thoughts? HEART ASSOCIATION WARNS OF RISK IN HIGH-PROTEIN DIETS " Despite their popularity, high-protein diets aren't making good on their promise of long-term weight loss, says a new scientific advisory from the American Heart Association. Moreover, the AHA says the diets are a health risk for people who stay on them beyond short periods of time. 'In general, quick weight-loss diets don't work for most people,' says Robert H. Eckel, M.D., co-author of a scientific advisory from the AHA'S nutrition committee. It's important for the public to understand that no scientific evidence supports the claim' that the diets work, Dr. Eckel says. " In 1998 the AHA 'declared war' on fad diets for misleading claims of instant weight loss. But Tuesday's advisory was the result of scientific documentation that gives credibility to the AHA's nutritional guidelines. The advisory specifically targets the Atkins, Zone, Protein Power, Sugar Busters and Stillman diets. Over the past decade these 'quick weight loss' regimens and their authors have topped best-seller book lists and have been promoted predominantly in the mass media. " Some of the diets increase fat intake and reduce nutritionally rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, which is not a good approach to meeting a person's long term dietary needs,' says Dr. Eckel, immediate past chair of the AHA'S nutrition committee. 'Many of these diets fail to provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutritional elements, in addition to their high fat content.' Eating large amounts of high-fat animal foods over a sustained period has been shown to increase the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer, the advisory says. " The statement notes that a diet rich in animal protein, saturated fat and cholesterol raises LDL (bad) cholesterol levels--an effect that is compounded when high-carbohydrate, high-fiber plant foods that help lower cholesterol are limited or eliminated. In the Atkins and Protein Power diets, the AHA is disturbed by the intake of saturated fat and cholesterol, as well as the risk for heart disease and stroke. Although the Zone, Sugar Busters and Stillman diets have lower fat, they are still high in protein, raising concern of kidney disease, particularly in people with kidney ailments and older adults with diabetes. " Dr. Eckel says the public and health-care professionals should consider the possibility that these diets are associated with osteoporosis and cancer, although those links have yet to be scientifically substantiated. [because of] the lure of the fad [diets], more than half of all adults in the United States are either overweight or obese. 'Many of these people are looking to high-protein diets as a popular 'new' strategy for successful weight loss,' Eckel says. " These diets cause a drop in weight primarily through loss of body fluids caused by the diuretic effect of eliminating most carbohydrates. Glycogen, the form of sugar used by the body for energy, is lost from the muscles as well, sometimes causing fatigue. Some of the diets also cause ketosis, a metabolic condition associated with low blood levels of insulin that results when the body is deprived of dietary carbohydrates. " Sustained ketosis also causes a loss of appetite, which may lead to lower calorie intake. Matthew W. Gillman, M.D., associate professor of ambulatory care and prevention at Harvard Medical School and its Harvard Pilgrim Health Care affiliate, endorses the AHA advisory. 'Because Americans often get lured by the fad and don't see the dangers in going to extremes', Dr. Gillman says, ' . . . we should be considering eating reduced amounts of the refined carbohydrates, but maybe not less carbohydrates overall. Try, for example, eating whole grain breads, brown rice, and cereals that are high in fiber.' But clearly, the quick fix promised by the high-protein diets is not the way to go, the AHA says. Studies consistently show that keeping weight off happens when people follow a nutritionally sound diet and increase physical activity to burn more calories than they consume. " Experts recommend following current AHA guidelines on nutrition: a variety of foods, including fruits and complex carbohydrates such as breads, cereals, starchy vegetables, rice and pastas. . . . " >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2002 Report Share Posted January 13, 2002 The " experts " advice at the bottom clearly shows they know diddly squat! Tracy - - <dfnewman Sunday, 13 January 2002 07:18 Risks In High-Protein Diets > Any thoughts? > > > > HEART ASSOCIATION WARNS OF RISK IN HIGH-PROTEIN DIETS > > > " Despite their popularity, high-protein diets aren't > > making good on their promise of long-term weight loss, says > > a new scientific advisory from the American Heart > > Association. Moreover, the AHA says the diets are a health > > risk for people who stay on them beyond short periods of > > time. 'In general, quick weight-loss diets don't work for > > most people,' says Robert H. Eckel, M.D., co-author of a > > scientific advisory from the AHA'S nutrition committee. > > It's important for the public to understand that no > > scientific evidence supports the claim' that the diets > > work, Dr. Eckel says. > > > " In 1998 the AHA 'declared war' on fad diets for > > misleading claims of instant weight loss. But Tuesday's > > advisory was the result of scientific documentation that > > gives credibility to the AHA's nutritional guidelines. The > > advisory specifically targets the Atkins, Zone, Protein > > Power, Sugar Busters and Stillman diets. Over the past > > decade these 'quick weight loss' regimens and their authors > > have topped best-seller book lists and have been promoted > > predominantly in the mass media. > > > " Some of the diets increase fat intake and reduce > > nutritionally rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, > > which is not a good approach to meeting a person's long > > term dietary needs,' says Dr. Eckel, immediate past chair > > of the AHA'S nutrition committee. 'Many of these diets fail > > to provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other > > nutritional elements, in addition to their high fat > > content.' Eating large amounts of high-fat animal foods > > over a sustained period has been shown to increase the risk > > of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several > > types of cancer, the advisory says. > > > " The statement notes that a diet rich in animal protein, > > saturated fat and cholesterol raises LDL (bad) cholesterol > > levels--an effect that is compounded when high-carbohydrate, > > high-fiber plant foods that help lower cholesterol are > > limited or eliminated. In the Atkins and Protein Power > > diets, the AHA is disturbed by the intake of saturated fat > > and cholesterol, as well as the risk for heart disease and > > stroke. Although the Zone, Sugar Busters and Stillman diets > > have lower fat, they are still high in protein, raising > > concern of kidney disease, particularly in people with > > kidney ailments and older adults with diabetes. > > > " Dr. Eckel says the public and health-care professionals > > should consider the possibility that these diets are > > associated with osteoporosis and cancer, although those > > links have yet to be scientifically substantiated. [because > > of] the lure of the fad [diets], more than half of all > > adults in the United States are either overweight or obese. > > 'Many of these people are looking to high-protein diets as > > a popular 'new' strategy for successful weight loss,' Eckel > > says. > > > " These diets cause a drop in weight primarily through loss > > of body fluids caused by the diuretic effect of eliminating > > most carbohydrates. Glycogen, the form of sugar used by the > > body for energy, is lost from the muscles as well, > > sometimes causing fatigue. Some of the diets also cause > > ketosis, a metabolic condition associated with low blood > > levels of insulin that results when the body is deprived of > > dietary carbohydrates. > > > " Sustained ketosis also causes a loss of appetite, which > > may lead to lower calorie intake. Matthew W. Gillman, M.D., > > associate professor of ambulatory care and prevention at > > Harvard Medical School and its Harvard Pilgrim Health Care > > affiliate, endorses the AHA advisory. 'Because Americans > > often get lured by the fad and don't see the dangers in > > going to extremes', Dr. Gillman says, ' . . . we should be > > considering eating reduced amounts of the refined > > carbohydrates, but maybe not less carbohydrates overall. > > Try, for example, eating whole grain breads, brown rice, > > and cereals that are high in fiber.' But clearly, the quick > > fix promised by the high-protein diets is not the way to > > go, the AHA says. Studies consistently show that keeping > > weight off happens when people follow a nutritionally sound > > diet and increase physical activity to burn more calories > > than they consume. > > > " Experts recommend following current AHA guidelines on > > nutrition: a variety of foods, including fruits and complex > > carbohydrates such as breads, cereals, starchy vegetables, > > rice and pastas. . . . " > > >> > > > > Getting well is done one step at a time, day by day, building health > and well being. > > To learn more about the Gettingwell group, > Subscription and list archives are at: > Gettingwell > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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