Adkins diet bad for liver? 
Shannon
21 y
11,815
† Cross †
MoreI need to lose weight and was thinking about trying this diet. Is it bad for the liver?
Shannon
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Ron
21 y
10,886
MoreThis is a reply to # 572,798Hi Shannon.
Dr Atkins was a practicing MD since the sixties. He has been preaching this diet since the seventies.
He has written at least three books on this diet, for all to see.
If there was a problem, would he have been wise to NOT warn everyone about it?
If loosing weight is bad for your liver, then ALL diets must be bad for your liver.
If you have a liver problem, what does your doctor recommend?
Ron - Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Davee1
21 y
10,744
This is a reply to # 572,798Most people don't know, but Dr. Atkins lost his medical license for malpractice. He also has been known to pass out while giving lectures (probably low glucose levels). His claim that our ancestors ate like his diet in our "hunter gatherer" days is erroneous. Wild animals are far different than farm raised domesticated animals. Their fat content was mostly polyunsaturated, not saturated. We also know that life expectancy back then was very low.There are a host of problems with the diet. The body can not possibly produce enough glucose from a ketogenic diet. The first thing it will do in the absense of carbs is to use the liver glycogen. Once those stores are exhausted, the glycogen from the brain is used to fuel basic body functions. I am a personal trainer. Every client I have had who was on Atkins, got dizzy or even passed out after an intense workout. It also causes many gastrointestinal problems.
People might tell you that recent studies vindicated Dr. Atkins, but those studies were short term and focused on only weight loss and short term cholesterol manipulation. Anyone in the nutrition field can tell you that the studies were inconclusive at best. They also didn't address many of the other concerns about the diet.
If you want a good, well researched book on diet (which also explains some of the shortcomings of "low-carb" diets), I recommend "The new glucose revolution". It's in paperback now so it's not expensive. Also, keep this in mind. Atkins diet has you taking a ton of supplements. What does that say about it's ability to meet your nutritional needs. He also happens to sell all the supplements -always a warning sign to me. I hope this info was helpful.
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? to da... butterfly
21 y
10,237
This is a reply to # 572,801i amglad someone has some good info about adkins. i have always tought it was not good for health. like the kidneys get overloaded. this is my opinion. if you must do this diet do it for a short time. if you can do anoth one do it. i know of a couple that did lose lots of weight. i wonder what is going to happened to there kidneys down the road. i personally would not do it. first like you if they are advertising their products. i ususally say no. they are not making money off of me.
good article thank you. hopefully a lot of people see this article.
faith - Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Ron
21 y
11,538
This is a reply to # 572,801Hi Daveeee,
The one good thing about the atkins diet is that the dieter sees results, lowers BP, helps prevent diabetic
nerve damage, learns to live without REFINED carbs (which did not exist in Caveman Days) , gets more than
enough protein to help build muscle.. Ooops that is MORE than ONE good thing!
(I am surprised that you didn't mention a connection between his diet and falling on the icy sidewalk.)
I do take issue with the lack of carbs, but if they are UNREFINED CARBS they will give you the nutrients you
mention without the rapid and high bloodsugar rises that are so addictive and harmful.
Grains will release their starches and sugars slowly and you will not feel hungry between meals.
Unfortunaely, the refined flour manufacturers will never tell you about UNGROUND unrefined carbs.
Have you ever tried to stay on a grapfruit diet for a year or two, just to see how unhealthy that can be?
Ron
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? #163633
21 y
10,416
This is a reply to # 572,822Hi Ron, here we go again ;)
"...but if they are UNREFINED CARBS they will give you the nutrients you mention without the rapid and high bloodsugar rises that are so addictive and harmful. Grains will release their starches and sugars slowly..."
I see this everywhere, but I think that it is mostly a suburban legend. I have never seen a study backing this up, perhaps you have. Even if you have seen many randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled studies backing this up, it is true that:
No matter how whole, organic, cold stone ground, refrigerated or loved grains may be, many folks with reactive hypoglycemia can get serious blood Sugar spikes from unrefined carbs. Since it's very difficult to tell what the causes of these problems are (effects can begin anywhere from almost right away up to six hours later), people can be trapped into a lifetime of fatigue caused by eating 'properly.' They don't realize that they have reactive hypoglycemia, they just know that they don't feel well, so they chase one discipline or fad after another trying to feel better.
hg
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Ron
21 y
10,068
This is a reply to # 572,831Hi Hip No Guy,
Could you tell me what it is about the word UNREFINED that you do not understand?
Flour based products are what you must avoid in order to avoid REFINED carbs.
Bread, pasta, cookies, crackers, bagels pretzels and white rice must be avoided.
Potatoes and root vegetables are OK in moderation WITH meals that contain protein.
http://www.drmirkin.com/nutrition/n195.html
Let me know if there is more convincing required
Ron- YIKES! UserX
21 y
10,106
This is a reply to # 572,832I think you may have missed the point that he was trying to make! Your post implied that there was no problem with unrefined carbs...but there are some who believe that ANY grains can pose a problem...see mercola.com for more info on this.
Also, the very common combo of starches with proteins (a la meat 'n taters) is a crummy pair for food combining...not the easiest to digest and often a culprit for gas and bloating.
- Re: YIKES! Ron
21 y
10,063
This is a reply to # 572,835Hi PTRee,
I think I actually ansrwred Daveee's question quite well.
I realize that some are allergic to Gluten and they have to be careful with certain grains.
Others may have bowel troubles like UC, IBD or crohns and thay have been told to avoid fiber because of
strictures...
The rest of us may have had trouble with flour products blocking us up and doctors may have suggested
"Fiber Supplements like Metamucil with less than great results.
Fiber from the husks of whole grains will prevent constipation and keeps the liquids that cause diarrhea
from flooding the gut. Grains can hold agout six times their volume in water and that keeps things
from remaining in a liquid state in the gut. The stool will also remain soft and pliable and easily formed
to exit without stretching the rectum to the point of pain. Gas will also pass through the porous stool
instead of stretching the colon like a balloon and causing the sharp gas pains.
I agree that root vegetables are starch, but with a cup of grains with each meal, the amount of potato
and protein that will be eaten is greatly reduced. The good thing is that the person who eats this way
will not be hubgry between meals and will not have the ups and downs in blood Sugar that are common
with REFINED carbs.
Ron
- Re: YIKES! UserX
21 y
10,091
This is a reply to # 572,836Let me clarify...when I said that I think you missed 'his' point...I was referring to Hypoguy...not Davee.
There are other issues with grains besides gluten-intolerance and fiber content. Consuming grains also produces an increase in insulin levels which a growing body of research shows has implications for obesity, heart disease, cancer and perhaps most chronic illnesses. Again...I will refer you to mercola.com for further information on this.
You wrote:
"Others may have bowel troubles like UC, IBD or crohns and thay have been told to avoid fiber because of
strictures... "
I don't know where you have gotten your information about colon functioning... bowel strictures are independent of conditions such as UC, IBD and Crohn's disease...and fiber therapy is highly recommended to address these conditions provided the individual is not experiencing an active episode of UC or Crohn's ...although allopathic medicine has a poor record when it comes to treating these illnesses. Doctors routinely prescribe fiber for patients who are constipated...with very frustrating results. In someone who is already constipated...and somewhat dehydrated (which often goes hand-in-hand with constipation)...nothing will back them up more than increasing their fiber intake! I'm a colon hydrotherapist and I see this all the time...people severely impacted because they followed 'doctor's orders' and have little understanding of the role of fiber and water...thinking that fiber=laxative...it does not.
Fiber husk is very beneficial and is an essential part of a colon cleansing program...but the grains do not have to be ingested to obtain this benefit. Daily fiber can also be obtained from seeds (ie. flax) and vegetables.
Many of your posts seem to reflect a more conventional medical approach...ie. suggeting that people should get their supplements at a pharmacy instead of health food store, scoffing at some of the cleansing programs, etc....are you the same 'Ron' that was posting on the SARS forum using another name...and referring people to quackwatch.com?!!!
- Re: YIKES! reply to PRTee Ron
21 y
10,129
This is a reply to # 572,840Hi PTRee,
If you are into colonics it is no wonder why you deny the use of fiber to prevent constipation.
No one said that eating like a horse was the way to move stool but keeping the hard rocks of stool
from forming is a big help. Bread and pasta are big culprits in constipation and a slow perisistalysis
is another because the longer stool remains in the colon tha more dehydrated and HARDER it becomes.
IBS is mainly a self inflicted condition unless there is an underlying neurological problem in the gut.
I am not speaking from the pulpit... The attached article quotes SEVEN studies to substantiate this.
http://www.drmirkin.com/morehealth/g211.htm
Your serve...
Ron - Re: YIKES! Ron
21 y
9,830
This is a reply to # 572,840Regarding fiber husks..
I have heard and agreed with Dr Teplisky on a lot of what he says.
I just prefer to get my fiber from the closest farmer/grainery etc instead of from the trendy shops.
Maybe I am just trying to get back to nature and do it the cheapest way. Do you have a store?
Ron - Re: YIKES! Ron
21 y
9,811
This is a reply to # 572,840Hi PTRee,
"Fiber husk is very beneficial and is an essential part of a colon cleansing program...but the
grains do not have to be ingested to obtain this benefit. Daily fiber can also be obtained
from seeds (ie. flax) and vegetables."
What does the above quote mean? Why would eating the grains be less beneficial than what you suggest.
I never said that anyone should avoid eating vegetables or flax seed with a meal.
I did say that the amount of fiber that is required to prevent constipation was insufficient if it was only gotten
from supplements, so eating the 1/2 cup or more of cooked grains with each meal would ensure that
stool did not turn to rocks in the colon. You must have never tried this yourself and would rather believe that
no one else has any answers to constipation.
If one finds that this works for them, they will be seeing a lot less of ANY doctors or therapists of any kind
and that would be good for the sufferer in many ways. Just as everyone is free to pray to the god of their choice
they should be advised of the "alternatives" to the alternatives and decide for themselves. Hiding the truth is
not fair to anyone.
Ron - Re: YIKES! davee1
21 y
9,915
This is a reply to # 572,840Yes, a growing body of evidence does indicate that a rapid rise in insulin can contribute to many problems. However, low glycemic foods do NOT cause a rapid rise in insulin in anyone. That is what glycemic index specifically measures. There are many factors that determine GI. Processing is but one. Some starches become gelatinous upon digestion. Even though they have a high fiber content, they still have a high GI. Surprisingly Sugar and pasta have moderate to low GI's while brown rice has a high GI. GI is the most important factor in considering a carbohydrates impact on blood Sugar and insulin. Therefor, often people are more restricitve on their diet then they need to be. As far as combining carbs and protein. Both contain enzymes that help the other digest. The more likely culprit in people indigestion are additives and preservatives (I personally eat only organic) as well as anything that might be added to the meal (For instance, consuming liquids with a meal dilutes stomach acid and causes indigestion-I know from personal experience that eliminating liquid intake 20 minutes before and after a meal has helped my digestion considerably). Sauces, salt, and other "sides" might be a factor as well. There might be food allergies as well (such as gluten). Consuming some fat with carbs also helps blunt the glucose effect, lowering the glymeic index of the meal. But, I will acknowledge that there is a wide range of tolerances among individuals. Studies are designed to test the "average" person. Statistical anomalies are usually thrown out of the calculations. (Not with the GI studies though). Anyway, I hope I added something to the dialog.
- Re: YIKES! reply to PRTee Ron
21 y
10,129
- Re: YIKES! UserX
21 y
10,091
- Re: YIKES! Ron
21 y
10,063
- YIKES! UserX
21 y
10,106
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Ron
21 y
10,153
This is a reply to # 572,831Hi Hip No Guy,
I think this is what you are looking for. A respected study.
http://www.drmirkin.com/diabetes/1439.html
Ron
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Ron
21 y
10,068
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? #163633
21 y
10,416
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? grog
21 y
9,845
This is a reply to # 572,801i believe recent scientific studies and thousands of years of history prove you wrong. and as for the maliscious lies about dr.atkins charactor or intentions or the completely moronic rumours that you chose use shows me your ignorance and narrowmindedness. dr. atkins struggled and fought the establishment and gave more to help people in hopeless situations than people like you will ever know. and no your info was not helpfull, it was hurtful.
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? to da... butterfly
21 y
10,237
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? #161567
21 y
10,028
This is a reply to # 572,798Shannon,
I work in Viral Vaccine Research and my boss is an M.D., Ph.D. trained
in one of the top schools in the nation, and is affiliated with one of
the finest hospitals in NY. He will stand on clinical studies for the
most part. He believes the Atkins diet is fine. He does qualify that
by stating the first 2 weeks are rigid but carbs are then introduced.
Many times individuals continue on with the 2-wk diet since they are
losing weight, and certainly understood. But if you go to the library
and secure one of Atkins books you will notice he has 3 plans, and
plan 2 & 3 definitely have carbs. The medical community is tough, Dr. Atkins could never have survived if he was "off the wall" But do bear in mind moderation. After the 2 weeks, you'll have your carbs back.
One opinion only of course, but clinical studies prove it's just fine.- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Davee1
21 y
10,885
This is a reply to # 572,803Clinical studies have not proved it's just fine, and the carbs that are re-introduced are still too low to fuel many vital functions in the body. That is the opinion of almost all the scientists who specialize in diet as it relates to health and fitness. As far as the clinical studies, they are all short term and they only address weight loss and overall cholesterol. Just about any diet can help you lose weight if you stick to it (And don't forget exercise). Cholesterol is one of the most misunderstood concepts in nutrition. Short term adjustments don't equate to better health. There are also 2 new studies (one in the US and one in the UK) that studied close to 700,000 people over the course of several years. The study concluded that people who consumed large amounts of fiber, specifically from grains and fruit (almost forbidden on Atkins) and not from vegetables, reduce their risk of colorectal cancer by 36%. The amounts of fiber are well above what would be allowed on Atkins. I'm not looking for an argument here, but many people are jumping on this bandwagon based on some very limited information. The vast majority of research (which doesn't get the same media exposure) suggests that Atkins is not healthy.
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Ron
21 y
10,491
This is a reply to # 572,816Hi Daveeee,
You have some good points but any diet which gets results can also influence people who are too easily led
that more of the same is better....
Do not forget that many have tried the carb counting and supplemented diets only to regain more than
the original weight when they fell of the difficult bandwagon.
The secret is in avoiding the REFINED carbs which did not exist in caveman days. Fat cavemen never
had the drive to catch and kill a Mastodon
PS... The NUMBER ONE reason why people live longer NOW is because of Antibiotics
Pasta and bread will kill you if you do not control your intake.
(Watch the fight that this statement starts!)
Ron
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Davee1
21 y
9,855
This is a reply to # 572,823I agree with you 100% about refined carbs. The book I mentioned "The new glucose revolution" is all about that. I don't completely agree,however, that the #1 reason people live longer is Antibiotics . There are many reasons including the fact that people no longer live and work in close proximity to work animals and unsanitary conditions. I know people in their 70's who live completely organic lives (no innoculations, no Antibiotics ) and are healthy and vibrant. In fact I hope to be that healthy when I reach that age. My point in mentioning it was that the diet of our ancestors is often cited as evidence for Atkins. There is no evidence that the diet improved the health of our ancestors in any way. Like I mentioned earlier, also, the meat was very different than supermarket meat we eat today. I forgot to mention in my earlier posts also, ratios of macronutrients do vary somewhat from person to person. The basic concepts, however, are consistent for most people.
Expand 18 messages, 21 to 38 of 38 #165733
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- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Davee1
21 y
9,855
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Ron
21 y
10,491
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Davee1
21 y
10,885
- Re: Adkins diet bad for liver? Ron
21 y
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