Atkins Diet Research Proves Grains Cause Weight Gain

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http://www.mercola.com/2003/jun/4/atkins_diet.htm

 

 

Atkins Diet Research Proves Grains Cause Weight Gain

 

 

 

 

 

 

People following the high-protein, high-fat, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet lost

more weight and lowered triglyceride levels further than people following a

standard low-fat diet, according to two studies published in the New England

Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

 

The research suggests that carbohydrates do cause weight gain, however

researchers are uncertain whether the weight loss will hold up over time.

 

In one six-month study, 132 men and women started out weighing an average of 286

pounds. Those following the Atkins diet lost 13 pounds versus four pounds for

those on a low-fat diet.

 

The second study, which lasted one-year, involved 63 participants who weighted

an average of 217 pounds at the start. After six months, the Atkins group lost

15 pounds while the low-fat group lost 7. However, at the end of a year,

participants on the Atkins diet had regained about one-third of their weight,

and low-fat dieters had regained about one-fifth of their weight.

 

According to researchers, the difference in weight loss after one year was not

large enough to tell whether it was caused by the diets.

 

 

 

In both studies, those following the Atkins regimen typically had higher levels

of “good cholesterol” and lower levels of triglycerides, or fats in the blood,

than those on the low-fat diet.

 

The researchers of both studies suggested that further studies are needed to

determine whether the beneficial effects of the Atkins diet outweigh those of

low-fat diets, which are known to reduce the risk of heart disease.

 

The New England Journal of Medicine May 22, 2003;348:2082-2090

 

 

 

 

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

Dr. Atkins provided a major jumpstart to help establish the connection between

obesity and insulin, and it is encouraging to see some major studies validate

this approach. Unfortunately, Dr. Atkins didn’t take his program far enough as

he labeled all carbohydrates as bad.

 

As most of you already know I happen to believe that vegetable carbohydrates are

quite different than grains and as such do not need to be restricted to

effectively reduce weight.

 

When you understand Metabolic Typing it becomes obvious that some people indeed

require up to two-thirds of their diet as vegetable carbohydrate. So these

people are actually on a high-carbohydrate, but no-grain, no-sugar, diet.

 

This is the critical piece of the puzzle that Dr. Atkins was missing. However,

once you understand this it is easy to discern why studies that evaluate Dr.

Atkins’ approach are not able to consistently validate its effectiveness.

 

This is largely related to the fact that one-third of people should never be on

a low-carb, high-fat, high-protein diet. Although they may lose weight

initially, it is a prescription for disaster for them. These heavy individuals

actually require a high-vegetable, no-grain, no-sugar diet along with low fat

and protein intake.

 

This is their ideal fuel mixture and if they don’t receive it they will not burn

calories effectively and will use the extra fat and protein and deposit it as

fat in their bodies.

 

While most people will indeed benefit from restricting grains and sugars from

the diet, it is important to remember that there is no perfect diet for everyone

or every condition. Diet really needs to be modified and adjusted to fit each

specific person with his or her own unique genetic requirements.

 

Related Articles:

 

Insulin and Its Metabolic Effects

 

Food Companies Focus on Dr. Atkins

 

Obesity and Diabetes: A Growing Problem Among Americans

 

American Cancer Society Now Believes Obesity is as Dangerous as Smoking

 

High-Grain Diet May Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

 

Add Years to Your Life by Shedding Extra Pounds

 

 

 

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