By Colette Heimowitz
A recent Chronicle article (“Negative Effects of Atkins Revealed,” March 17th) reported many untrue claims, several of which are common myths about controlled-carbohydrate lifestyles like the Atkins Nutritional Approach (ANA), that must be debunked in light of emerging research. The ANA is rooted in controlled-carbohydrate nutritional science, and has today become one of the mainstream tools used by physicians around the nation to treat obesity, control diabetes and prevent heart disease and other medical conditions. In light of this, we feel the need to correct several of these inaccuracies regarding the ANA and stop the spread of misinformation.
The ANA does not “virtually eliminate fruits and some vegetables,” as claimed by the article. During Induction, the first phase of the ANA, five servings daily of a wide variety of greens and salad vegetables are permitted (including avocado, olives, tomato, cauliflower, zucchini, etc.). One only needs to look at our books or Atkins.com to know that so much more than two cups of romaine lettuce are allowed, as the article falsely states. Also entirely false is the claim that fruits and grains are not allowed. Low-glycemic fruits, such as berries, nuts and seeds, whole grains and legumes are all a part of the approach as well, at varying amounts for the different phases of the ANA. Clearly, these statements were not based on research of the ANA.
The characterization of the ANA as a diet that “barely provides any vitamins and minerals, no fiber, too much saturated fat and too much protein” further reveals a lack of research and ignorance as to what the ANA actually is. The ANA focuses on moving people away from diets loaded with refined carbohydrates, like sugar and white flour, to a lifestyle centered around eating whole foods and nutrient-dense carbohydrates, like leafy greens, and finding a balance in the consumption of proteins and fat. The program provides a complete balanced nutrient intake. Even fiber intake is adequate when additional vegetables, nuts/seeds, low-glycemic fruits, legumes and whole grains are incorporated into the daily food choices permitted throughout the remaining phases of the program, after the first phase induction.
Even more alarming, the article states, “…there haven’t been enough human studies done outside of the Atkins regime to prove that the benefits outweigh the risks.” Regrettably, this author neglected to look at our web site, which clearly references hundreds of studies by independent researchers that use human subjects, all of which speak to the safety or efficacy of low-carb approaches like Atkins. Many studies that we have seen demonstrate the ability of such approaches to lower the risk of heart disease and even colon cancer, which are two health risks the article mentions. Kidney disease is also addressed, though no study, review paper, or even a specific case, has ever been produced linking this circumstance to such a dietary program with the amount of protein consumed on an Atkins type program. The only remotely related phenomenon is the fact that, when someone is already suffering from far-advanced kidney disease, it is difficult for that person’s body to handle any amount protein, in which case they need to follow the advice of their physician as to dietary choices.
The specious claim that the brain needs a minimum of 130 grams of carbs a day for normal function is at best based on research looking at carbs, fats and proteins in a high- carb setting. Research focused on a controlled-carb diet paints a very different picture and has long shown that every cell in the body, including the brain, is capable of using ketones as energy. (Ketones are the byproduct of fat burning, which occurs on a low-carb diet.) In fact, in an interview in The New York Times Magazine, Dr. Richard Veech, an N.I.H. researcher and one of the world’s experts on ketones, stated that the heart and the brain run 25 percent more efficiently on ketones than on blood sugar.
If we are to overcome the rampant epidemic of obesity and diabetes, we must be willing to keep an open mind to new options for recommendations in dietary intake, not follow a herd mentality in casting aspersions on unconventional dietary approaches. With the results of 40 clinical studies recently reported showing consistently that the Atkins-type low-carbohydrate diet offers a safe, healthy alternative to weight loss as well as weight management, we know that we are on the right path.