The '80s were the beginning of the big fitness craze in America.
Around the time of the fitness boom came Dr. Robert Atkins, a cardiologist who graduated from Cornell Medical School. His controversial weight loss theory recently has resurfaced. Many swear by this weight loss technique (just do a Web search under "Atkins diet" and you'll get a screen full of testimonials), but is it really healthy? The majority of the medical community still is at odds with Dr. Atkins, with plenty of research to back them up.
Atkins' diet plan involves limiting intake of carbohydrates - starches, grains, fruits and vegetables. At the same time, no limit is placed on protein-rich, and often fat-laden foods. The rationale behind this plan is that carbohydrate depletion leads to fat metabolism.
There are usually two reasons to diet: to improve general health or to lose weight. But, the two don't necessarily go hand in hand. It is quite possible to lose weight in a manner that is harmful if you aren't breaking down fat. And even if you are losing fat, you can lose too much too soon. In theory, you do lose fat on the Atkins diet, but in the real world, the body does not quite work like Atkins says it does.
So what is this diet all about? Well, Atkins' theory makes good sense on paper. The body's fuel is glucose, which comes from carbohydrates. You can get carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, grains and starches. When you eat a meal, your pancreas secretes insulin, a hormone, which moves glucose into cells. If you already have enough glucose on board, additional glucose is stored in an "easy-access" form called glycogen. If you happen to have all the glycogen you can hold, your body will convert glucose to fat for storage.
This concept is fairly well accepted within the medical community and is key to Atkins' diet.
Atkins believes that a ketogenic diet forces the body to burn fat.
Your body will break down fat for energy into an organic byproduct called ketones, which can be used for energy in a pinch, but is a less-efficient energy source than good old glucose by a significant amount.
Limiting, or in some cases excluding carbohydrates from the diet (that means no grains, fruit, vegetables, or starches), forces the body to find another route to get glucose. First, your body will break down any stored glycogen. Then your body starts to break down other substances to make glucose. All of this would be healthy, if your body only burned fat when it was deprived of glucose.
Atkins claims that your body will burn fat before it metabolizes muscle tissues when your glucose stores have been depleted. But it just so happens that your body can make glucose from protein as well as fat. When the body is placed under the stress of a ketogenic diet, protein degradation may occur. Sure, you will lose weight by breaking down protein, but you are breaking down muscle (that's where the protein is). You may end up skinny, but with an abnormal lean body mass to fat ratio. Also, your heart is made of muscle - do you really want to be eating away at that?
Low carbohydrate intake is only one part of the Atkins diet. High protein intake makes up for the calories that you don't get from carbohydrates. While the body does need protein, it does not take the place of the vitamins, minerals and glucose we get from fruits, vegetables and grains. Therefore, Atkins recommends the use of dietary supplements to make up for it. While supplements will take up some of the slack, there is no better way to get the nutrients you need than from natural sources.
It's pretty well-accepted that meat and eggs are the best sources of dietary protein. Most in the medical community, including organizations such as the American Dietetic Association, have recommended a move from meats as the main portion of meals. While decreasing the amount of meat you eat may decrease your total intake of protein, the average American is by no means protein- deficient.
So what is the alternative? It's the same story you've heard from your doctor for years. A well-balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, grains and a moderate amount of meat and dairy products is what your body needs.
In addition to a well-balanced diet, the key to weight loss is aerobic exercise. We all hate it, but that is the only healthy way to lose weight.
When it comes to a healthy diet, there aren't any tricks or shortcuts despite what the guru of the moment claims. To make a long story short, don't believe the hype - if a diet says you can't eat what your momma says is good for you, stick with what your momma says.
Doran Ricks is a third-year Nursing student.
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