Counting Carbs

 
            Jody Gorran tired the Atkins diet, which is a low carb and avoiding food with sugars and starches.  For 2 and half years he lost weight and felt great until he experienced chest pains and his heart had 99% blockage in his coronary artery.  He filed suit against Atkins Company.  He was convinced that it gave him heart disease.  Gorran wasn’t even asking for money, he mainly wanted to force labels onto the products.  Few studies have turned up thought that there have been problems that Gorran has experienced.  Few physicians argue that although short-term weight loss isn’t worth potential long-term risks.

            Two studies highlight the advantages that low carb over low fat eating.  The Atkins foundation funded 6 months study of 120 people who were obese.  People on this diet lost 85% more weight and were less likely to drop out of the program.  People on the low carb diet look 40 fewer calories per day.  This increased their blood concentration by 5.5% of cholesterol; low fat diets only had 1.6%

            In the second study a cardiologist studied 132 obese individuals who had diabetes or a metabolism related problem with sugar.  The researchers prescribed low carb or low fat diets they encouraged the diets for 6 months but evaluated them for a year.  The low carb dieter’s shed pounds faster they platued 6 months though.  The low fat group continued to slim down after doctors encouraged ended and by the end of the year they achieved weight loss similar to the low carb dieters.

            Differences that emerged and they favored low carb.  The accumulative blood sugar control was better in 6 months and a year.  Low carb bodies had better response to insulin in first half because carbs normally raise blood sugar and aggravate poor response to insulin.

            Study in the organ Health and Science University described 6 week studying comparing low fat to low carbs, which included same number of calories.  It began with the researchers finding out how many calories obese but other wise healthily people would eat when offered unlimited amount of Atkins approved foods.  The low carb groups at will the other group was fed the same amount of calories from low fat and low salt approved by American Heart Association.  The two groups shed equal amounts of weight.  Blood concentrations of cholesterol and lipids improved in low fat eaters.

            This study reflects what Gorran experienced.  Those who cholesterol profile proves especially sensitive to fat intake may want to switch diets.

Questions

 
1)      What are some advantages of a low carb diet?

2)      How do these studies show that dieting for awhile will hurt your health?

3)      Do you think the results would de different in someone who was just over weight and not obese?

4)      Do you think there is enough evidence in the studies to prove against the low carb diets?

The conclusion of the studies just told you that if you have a bad cholesterol problem you should not  use this diet. Do you believe that even if you do not have these problems, that this diet is actually healthy?