By way of review, the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution is a very low-carb diet, particularly in the two-week induction phase. "Very low-carb" means lots of meat, chicken, fish, eggs, limited cheese, and 2-3 cups daily of salad greens and low-carb veggies like onions, tomatoes, broccoli, and snow peas. After induction phase, you slowly add back carbs on a weekly basis until weight loss stalls, then you cut back on carbs.
As an adult medicine specialist, I have no expertise in pediatrics. I didn't read the two chapters related to children.
The authors present "complimentary medicine"in a favorable light. Unsuspecting readers need to know that much of complementary medicine is based on hearsay and anecdote, not science-based evidence. In that same vein, the two chapters on supplements for diabetes and heart disease recommend a cocktail of supplements that I'm not convinced are needed. I don't know a single endocrinologist or cardiologist prescribing these concoctions. Then again, I could be wrong.
Vernon and Eberstein provide two excellent chapters on exercise.
A month of meal plans and recipes are provided for 20, 40, and 60-gram carbohydrate levels. [The average American is eating 250-300 g of carbs daily.] The recipes look quick and easy, but I didn't prepare or taste any of them.
The 5-hour glucose and insulin tolerance test that Dr. Atkins reportedly ran on all patientes who came to him is rarely done in other medical clinics. This doesn't mean it's wrong, but certainly out of the mainstream.
The authors admit that at least a few people will have to count calories—specifically, limit total calories—if the basic program doesn't control diabetes, prediabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. Limiting portion size will speed weight loss, they write.
What we don't know with certainty is, will long-term Atkins aficionados miss out on the health benefits of higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains? Much of the scientific literature suggests, "Yes."
What if we compare the long-term outlooks of a diabetic Atkins follower with a poorly controlled diabetic who's 80 pounds overweight and eating a standard American Diet? The Atkins follower is quite likely to be healthier and live longer.
-Steve Parker, M.D
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