Word Count 856, Keyword 7x, 1 Keyword link

Low Carb Diets – A 30 Year Revolution
Low carb diets aren’t what they used to be!
 

Soon I’ll be telling my thin-seeking grandchildren things like, “You think you have it bad? Why, back in the 70’s, we low-carbers had no bread, no ice cream, no chocolate, no pasta and, child -- when we ordered a meal at a restaurant and asked if we might substitute a small salad for the fries, we were met with a scowl and a curt, 'No substitutes allowed!'” However, I know my grandchildren will just roll their eyes and say, “Oh grandma, you must have been born before Moses.”

Although the theory of low-carb eating has been around since the late 19th century when it was first devised by William Banting, it was popularized by a brave pioneer of the 70’s, Dr. Atkins, who in 1972 published his book “Diet Revolution.”

After all, it was a time for revolutions, a time for flying in the face of establishment and convention. “You say you want a revolution?” Well, Dr. Atkins gave us one. We protested the Vietnam War, Atkins protested pasta. We said, “Separate but equal is evil.” Atkins said, “Sugar is evil.” Ahh, those were great times.

However, like so many revolutionaries, Atkins didn’t live to see the vast validation of his life’s work. At that time, as now, it was Atkins vs. The American Medical Association. Talk about David and Goliath!

Dr. Atkin's theories of avoiding sugar and starchy foods, while permitting liberal amounts of fats and proteins flew directly in the face of the AMA’s findings recommending the value of low fat, high complex carbohydrate diets. The AMA, as we “flower children” would say, was “The Man,” “The Suit,” “The Establishment.”

One year after his book was published, the American Medical Association dismissed Dr. Atkins’ diet as “nutritional folly,” labeling it “potentially dangerous,” and declared that its scientific underpinning was “naive” and “biochemically incorrect.” They even scolded the book’s publishers for promoting “bizarre concepts of nutrition and dieting.” Finally, Dr. Atkins was summoned by Congress to Capitol Hill to defend his plan.     

In an interview published in Business 2.0 magazine, Atkins said he was always able to deal with the criticism because of his unflagging belief in the diet.

“I want to eradicate obesity and diabetes,” Atkins said. “I believe God wants me to do that. Why would I give up?” Atkins asked. “I’m on the verge of succeeding.”

Yes kids, I guess I did live in the time of a Moses of sorts.

On April 17^th 2003, at the age of 72, Dr. Atkins slipped on the icy steps leading to his New York City office, where he had continued his anti-carb cause for the last 30 years. He sustained, and died of injuries to his head. Meanwhile, studies that had started in February of that same year were about to vindicate his claims. 

Research teams around the country put Atkins low carb diet theories to the test, in many cases just to prove him wrong. One study was even sponsored by the American Heart Association.

The studies were intended to "show it doesn't work," but after three months, the overweight men and women on the low carb diet had lost an average of 19 pounds, 10 more than people on the standard high-carb diet.

Gary Foster, a researcher who had published more than 50 scientific papers on obesity said, "I've spent my life researching ways to treat obesity, and 100 percent of them have been low-fat and high-carb. Now I'm beginning to think, it isn't as it has appeared."

What about cholesterol? Good question. The Atkins dieters' changed for the better. Their bad cholesterol went up seven points, but their good cholesterol rose 12. The high-carb dieter’s bad cholesterol went down only slightly and their good cholesterol remained unchanged.

The triglycerides of the high-carb dieters didn't budge while the low carb diet group's dropped a whopping 22 points. Indeed, rather than going haywire, their cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and bloodstream inflammation improved. They appeared to lose more weight, even when consuming more calories than people on the “healthy diet.”

"Some scientists are dismayed by the data and a little incredulous about it," said Gary Foster, of the weight-loss program at the University of Pennsylvania. "But the consistency of the results across studies is compelling in a way that makes us think we should investigate this further."

"It's difficult to swallow," says Dr. Kevin O'Brien, a University of Washington cardiologist, "but the data are the data, even if they go against 30 years of dogma."

Today the Atkin's logo is everywhere; on yummy things like bread, ice cream, and pancake mix. Also, there are special “Low Carb” menus in many restaurants. Several spin-offs of the diet are emerging including:

1. South Beach Diet

2. Zone Diet

3. Suzanne Somers

4. Scarsdale Diet

5. Mayo Clinic Diet

6. Glycemic Index

7. Protein Power

8. Sugar Busters

9. Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

Just to name a few.

"Oh, deep in my heart I do believe that we shall overcome someday..."
 

To learn more about the Dr. Atkins, low carb diet, click here:

Dr. Atkins Low Carb Diet