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| The
Atkins Diet
Despite its popularity, the Atkins diet remains highly controversial. Entities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the American Heart Association (AHA) to the Center for Science in the Public Interest denounce the diet. No more than 30% of total calories should come from fat, with the goal of decreasing that, agree the AHA and the USDA. The USDA's recommended "food pyramid" calls for six to eleven daily servings of bread, pasta, and grains (depending on one's age and amount of activity) and doesn't single out refined flour as a food felon -- a recommendation that flies in the face of the Atkins plan. Most health authorities also recommend at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, which Atkins doesn't supply. The American Dietetic Association is equally dismissive of the Atkins diet. A spokeswoman for the organization says, "The body needs a minimum of carbohydrates for efficient and healthy functioning -- about 150 grams daily." Below that, normal metabolic activity is disrupted, she says. "The brain needs glucose to function efficiently, and it takes a long time to break down fat and protein to get to the brain." Carbohydrates, especially in the form of vegetables, grains, and fruits, are more efficiently converted to glucose. And this more efficient use of glucose has developed over a long period of time, according to Frank. "Fruits and berries are much more indicative of early man's eating pattern than eating only protein, and we haven't changed all that much physiologically." Atkins' theories remain unproven, and most experts are concerned that Atkins' high-protein, high-fat diet can cause a host of problems, particularly for the large segment of the population that is at risk for heart disease. What's more, the plan doesn't permit a high intake of fruits and vegetables, recommended by most nutrition experts because of the numerous documented health benefits from these foods.
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