more atkins bashing

September 3, 2004

from AP (reported through salon and i'm sure other places)

mostly spun. bummer.

-katja

The most frequent complaints with low-carb diets are constipation and

headache, which are readily explained by the lack of fruit, vegetables and

whole grains, Astrup said.

Also, bad breath, muscle cramps, diarrhea, general weakness and rashes are

more often reported on low-carb diets than on low-fat diets, Astrup found.

" The majority had some of these side effects in the Atkins group. In the

control group, almost nothing,'' he said.

These side effects are consistent with carbohydrate deficiency, because the

brain and muscle do not get enough sugar from carbohydrates to maintain

their normal function, Astrup said. " We have known for many years that

there is a minimum intake of carbohydrate necessary to maintain the normal

function of your body and that is approximately 150 grams a day,'' he said.

" But, if on the Atkins diet you go down to 20 to 30 grams in the induction

phase, then maybe go up to 100 grams, still you are far below what your

body needs.'' The body can coast along for a while with the carbohydrate

stores in the liver and the muscles, but eventually problems start to

occur, Astrup said. " I think these symptoms are signs that something is

wrong,'' Astrup said. But Yancy, the U.S. researcher, said side effects

were seen not just after six months but also at the beginning and could

have been from dehydration, which is easily overcome. " We know that it

works,'' Yancy said. " I think it's good that people are acknowledging that

this diet might be an option for people. ...At this point, we need options

for people and when we're looking for options we need to consider even

things that go against our judgment sometimes.''

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