Millions of people claim to have lost weight by following the Atkins Diet, and this may be true, since they are likely to be restricting calories simply by eliminating most of the carbohydrates in their diets. However, the Mayo Clinic website states that there have been no major clinical studies that prove the health benefits, such as lower cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar levels claimed by Atkins followers will be sustained for long periods of time. Carbohydrates are an important nutrient for humans, and severely restricting them can be risky to their health.
Colon Cancer
Eating too much animal fat and not enough fiber can increase your risk for colon cancer, as stated by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The fiber in complex carbohydrates is needed to keep the colon clean and working in an efficient manner.
Heart Disease
Eating too much animal fat tends to increase cholesterol levels. Although the initial cholesterol levels from some early Atkins dieters due to the initial weight loss in a Duke University study, others had an increase in their LDL cholesterol levels. Over time, there were complications with more people in the study, including elevated bad cholesterol levels and chest pains. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has found that heart related deaths increased in women who ate large amounts of red meat and dairy products. Those who ate more vegetable protein had lower rates of heart disease.
Kidney Impairment
Too much animal protein can impair kidney function if consumed over a long period of time. Anyone who has even a small reduction in kidney function is at risk of it becoming a worse problem if they eat large amounts of animal protein. The American Academy of Family Physicians claims that a high intake of animal protein bears some of the responsibility for kidney stones.
Hard to Sustain
The Atkins diet is difficult to sustain for long periods of time. The decrease in the variety of foods can cause boredom and lethargy because the dieter isn't getting the proper nutritional balance. Cravings for foods not allowed on the Atkins program can derail the weight loss benefits because the person is more likely to binge later.
Bad Breath
When people eat high amounts of protein and not enough carbohydrates, they put their bodies in a state of ketosis, which often causes bad breath. This may go away after several days, but some people claim to have the bad breath for the duration of the diet.
Other Risks
The Atkins diet carries other health risks. According to a PCRM study, approximately 42 percent of those on the Atkins diet have a loss of energy and 31 percent had difficulty with concentration. Other problems included constipation, diarrhea, headache and muscle cramps.
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