| type="text/javascript"> ch_client = "articlealley"; | | | | a diet. |
| ch_type = "mpu"; ch_width = 590; ch_height = | | | | Most seriously, questions raised by Atkins's death, |
| 250; ch_non_contextual = 4; ch_noborders = 1; | | | | and the state of his heart health as revealed in |
| ch_vertical ="premium"; ch_sid = "590x250 Article | | | | the medical report after his death, seemed to |
| Mixed Top"; var ch_queries = new Array( ); var | | | | give credibility to his critics. |
| ength)); if ( ch_selected < ch_queries.length ) { | | | | Officially, Atkins died as a result of slipping on an |
| ch_query = ch_queries[ch_selected]; } Critics of | | | | icy pavement near his office. But his medical |
| the Atkins diet have always questioned it's health | | | | report revealed that he had a history of heart |
| validity. When Dr Atkins was called before a | | | | attacks, hypertension, and congestive heart |
| Senate committee headed by George McGovern, | | | | failure. His wife explained the heart problems as a |
| he was forced to admit that pregnant women | | | | result of a virus they both contracted in Turkey. |
| following his low carb diet would suffer fetal | | | | Whether or not this is true, other evidence has |
| damage to their unborn babies. | | | | since emerged that indicates Atkins diet is not |
| Studies since have found that long term, Atkins | | | | good for the heart after all. |
| dieters do not lose weight more quickly, or keep | | | | One recent study at Oxford University followed |
| it off more, over a twelve month period as | | | | 19 people over a two week period. When they |
| compared to people following other diets. The | | | | followed a diet high in fat and low in carbs, it was |
| initial weight loss is mostly fluid, not fat as is often | | | | found that the energy stored in their heart was |
| claimed. | | | | reduced by an average of 16%. In some people, |
| And whilst the high levels of protein and fats, and | | | | this reduction was as high as 30%. On top of this, |
| extremely low level of carbohydrates, appeals to | | | | whilst they were on this diet, these people's |
| some people's tastes, for most, it's unappetizing | | | | hearts were unable to relax as easily. These |
| and doesn't produce a feeling of well being. As | | | | changes reverted back to normal two weeks |
| such, it becomes difficult to follow for long | | | | after they went back to a normal diet. |
| periods. Yet it is sold as a 'way of life', rather than | | | | |