Discuss what major health organizations, government department and independent r

Question

Discuss what major health organizations, government department and independent research institutes thinks about this diet (ATKIN'S DIET). Keep in mind any institute linked with Atkin's organization or funded by it will not be considered as unbiased opinion. Your discussion must be divided in separate sections with "BOLD SUBHEADING as show below. 1.) American Heart Association 2.) American Dietiedt Association (ADA) 3.) American Kidney Associated (AKA). 4.) American Cancer Socity (ACS). Explain these all 4 about the views of this organization about this diet? What are their reservations, apprehensions about this or similar diets? (MUST BE AROUND 300 WORDS OR MORE)Please put the REFERENCES IN MLA FORMAT.

Explanation / Answer

The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate diet, usually recommended for weight loss. Proponents of this diet claim that you can lose weight eating as much protein and fat as you want, as long as you avoid foods high in carbs. In the past 12 years, over 20 studies have shown that low-carb diets are effective for weight loss (without calorie counting), and can lead to various health improvements. The Atkins diet was originally promoted by a physician named Dr. Robert C. Atkins, who wrote a best-selling book about the diet in 1972. Since then, the Atkins diet has been popular all over the world and many more books have been written about it. The diet was originally considered unhealthy and demonized by the mainstream health authorities, mostly due to the high saturated fat content. However, new studies have shown that saturated fat is harmless. Since then, the diet has been studied thoroughly and shown to lead to more weight loss than low-fat diets, and greater improvements in blood sugar, HDL (the "good" cholesterol), triglycerides and other health markers. Despite being high in fat, it does not raise LDL (the "bad") cholesterol on average, although this does happen in a subset of individuals. The main reason low-carb diets are so effective for weight loss, is that when people reduce carbohydrate intake and eat more protein, their appetite goes down and they end up automatically eating fewer calories without having to think about it.

The Atkins Diet Is a 4-Phase Plan

The Atkins diet is split into 4 different phases:

1. Phase 1 (induction): Under 20 grams of carbs per day for 2 weeks. Eat high-fat, high-protein, with low-carb vegetables like leafy greens. This kick-starts the weight loss.

2. Phase 2 (balancing): Slowly add more nuts, low-carb vegetables and small amounts of fruit back to your diet.

3. Phase 3 (fine-tuning): When you are very close to your goal weight, add more carbs to your diet until weight loss slows down.

4. Phase 4 (maintenance): Here you can eat as many healthy carbs as your body can tolerate without regaining weight.

However, these phases are a bit complicated and may not be necessary. You should be able to lose weight and keep it off as long as you stick to the meal plan below. Some people choose to skip the induction phase altogether and include plenty of vegetables and fruit from the start. This approach can be very effective as well. Others prefer to just stay in the induction phase indefinitely. This is also known as a very low-carb ketogenic diet (keto).

Follows are the reviews of major health organizations about ATKINS DIET:

American Heart Association:

Robert C. Atkins Foundation may have created the erroneous impression that the American Heart Association has revised its dietary guidelines. This is not the case. This study was released as one of over 3,600 abstracts presented at the American Heart Association's annual Scientific Sessions, a forum for the presentation of research pertaining to heart disease and stroke for scientists and physicians. These scientific abstracts do not represent official positions or statements of the American Heart Association.

Here are the American Heart Association's concerns with the study:

• The study is very small, with only 120 total participants and just 60 on the high-fat, low carbohydrate diet.

• This is a short-term study, following participants for just 6 months. There is no evidence provided by this study that the weight loss produced could be maintained long term.

• There is no evidence provided by the study that the diet is effective long term in improving health.

• A high intake of saturated fats over time raises great concern about increased cardiovascular risk - the study did not follow participants long enough to evaluate this.

• This study did not actually compare the Atkins diet with the current AHA dietary recommendations.

"The American Heart Association has dietary guidelines, rather than a rigid diet. These guidelines, revised in 2000, replaced the Step I and Step II diet, which emphasized fat restriction. The current guidelines, based on the best available evidence, emphasize a healthy dietary pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish and poultry, as well as low-fat dairy products," says Robert O. Bonow, M.D., the president of the American Heart Association. "It is important to note that there is no single 'American Heart Association Diet.' Rather there is a set of guidelines designed to be broad enough to accommodate many different food preferences, as well as to provide specific guidance for individuals with specific conditions."

By way of contrast with this small study, a 12-year Harvard study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute was also reported at this meeting. This study of 74,000 women showed that those who consumed more fruits and vegetables were 26 percent less likely to become obese than women who ate fewer fruits and vegetables over the same time period. "This is a much more compelling study regarding weight control, because it involved many more individuals over a much longer period," says Bonow.

"Bottom line, the American Heart Association says that people who want to lose weight and keep it off need to make lifestyle changes for the long term - this means regular exercise and a balanced diet," he says. "People should not change their eating patterns based on one very small, short-term study. Instead, we hope that the public will continue to rely on the guidance of organizations such as the American Heart Association which look at all the very best evidence before formulating recommendations."

American Dietetic Association:

Approved by the Executive Board of the American Dietetic Association as Position Paper No. 0000P.

With nearly 70,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of dietetics and nutrition.

Members of The American Dietetic Association are concerned with the increasing amount of misinformation on food and nutrition disseminated in the United States with its resultant economic and nutritional exploitation of the American people. The time has come for The American Dietetic Association as a body of informed professionals to dispel many of the popular myths concerning the nutritional value of health foods; diets promising quick weight loss; and excessive vitamin, mineral, and dietary supplementation (1). The dietetic profession is committed to informing consumers about ill-advised diets and the misleading teachings of self-proclaimed nutrition experts. This Position Paper of the Association is intended for the information and guidance of that segment of the population who may be the victims of consumer misinformation. Position statements arc given in italics; the rationale follows.

LOW-CARBOHYDRATE KETOGENIC DIETS. The American Dietetic Association does not recommend low- carbohydrate, ketogenic (excessive fat) diets.

Such low-carbohydrate dietary regimens have been popular for quick weight loss for many years. These diets have the fol1owing similarities: (a) low carbohydrate content; (b) no restriction of protein and fat; and (c) unrestricted calories (14). These diets have many different labels.

Such diets are potentially hazardous. Low carbohydrate, high-fat diets may increase cholesterol levels in the blood if the fat is saturated or if dietary cholesterol is high. This is frequently associated with increased risk of heart disease.

Low-carbohydrate diets may increase blood uric acid concentration (hyperuricemia) (14). Hyperuricemia in patients with gout increases the severity of the disease. Increased metabolism of fats and proteins during carbohydrate restriction may be hazardous for persons with potential or existing kidney or liver disease. Low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diets often result in complaints of fatigue, lassitude, nausea, and diarrhea shortly after beginning the regimen (15,16).

While weight loss does occur on low-carbohydrate diets, there is no evidence for greater loss than on a well balanced diet, provided total calories are the same. The pounds lost on the low-carbohydrate diet are often regained because faulty dietary habits have not been changed. The well balanced diet will have the added advantage that it can become the basis for a long-range plan of eating that will maintain the most desirable weight and nutritional health.

Conclusion:

The world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals,7 calls the Atkins Diet "a nightmare of a diet."8 The official spokesperson of the American Dietetic Association elaborated: "The Atkins Diet and its ilk -- any eating regimen that encourages gorging on bacon, cream and butter while shunning apples, all in the name of weight loss -- are a dietitian's nightmare."9 The ADA has been warning Americans about the potential hazards of the Atkins Diet for almost 30 years now.10 Atkins dismissed such criticism as "dietitian talk".11 "My English sheepdog," Atkins once said, "will figure out nutrition before the dieticians do."12 While there are many aspects of a healthy diet that dietitians are not aware of, the downsides of the Atkins diet is not one of them.

The problem for Atkins, though, is that the National Academy of Sciences, the most prestigious scientific body in the United States, agrees with the AMA and the ADA in opposing the Atkins Diet.13 So does the American Cancer Society;14 and the American Heart Association;15 and the Cleveland Clinic;16 and Johns Hopkins’17and the American Kidney Fund;18 and the American College of Sports Medicine;19 and the National Institutes of Health.20

In fact there does not seem to be a single major governmental or nonprofit medical, nutrition, or science-based organization in the world that supports the Atkins Diet.21 As a 2004 medical journal review concluded, the Atkins Diet "runs counter to all the current evidence-based dietary recommendations."22

A 2003 review of Atkins "theories" in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition concluded: "When properly evaluated, the theories and arguments of popular low carbohydrate diet books… rely on poorly controlled, non-peer-reviewed studies, anecdotes and non-science rhetoric. This review illustrates the complexity of nutrition misinformation perpetrated by some popular-press diet books. A closer look at the science behind the claims made for [these books] reveals nothing more than a modern twist on an antique food fad."

American kidney association:

The American Kidney Fund is the leading national voluntary health organization providing direct financial assistance for the benefit of kidney patients supported by comprehensive educational programs, clinical research and community service projects.

(Rockville, MD) The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is warning Americans about popular high-protein diets for weight loss. The diets place such a significant strain on the kidneys that even conditioned athletes can become dehydrated, according to researchers at the University of Connecticut.

AKF Chairman of Medical Affairs Paul W. Crawford, MD said, "We have long suspected that high-protein weight loss diets could have a negative impact on the kidneys, and now we have research to support our suspicions. Dehydration forces the kidneys to work harder to clean toxins from the blood. Kidneys not only filter the blood, but they help regulate blood pressure and the number of red blood cells."

The researchers studied five fit endurance runners who consumed a low, then a medium, and finally a high-protein diet. During the high-protein phase, the runners consumed about 30% of their total calories from foods such as eggs, steak, and so-called "power bars". Blood tests showed that increasing the protein intake led to a progression toward dehydration, and that a greater strain was placed on the kidneys due to the excessive amount of protein.

"Increased protein intake leads to a build-up of nitrogen in the blood. The nitrogen ends up at the kidney in the form of urea, where it needs to be cleaned from the blood and gotten rid of in the urine," explained Dr. Crawford. "The resulting increase in urination can cause dehydration, further straining the kidneys," he added.

In otherwise healthy individuals, a protein intake of no more than 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight was recommended by the researchers in order to avoid negative long-term effects. Dr. Crawford also discussed the risk that bodybuilders take in eating high-protein diets while building muscle. He noted, "Bodybuilders could be predisposing themselves to chronic kidney disease because hyperfilteration (the strain on the kidneys) can produce scarring in the kidneys, reducing kidney function."

"Chronic kidney disease is not to be taken lightly, and there is no cure for kidney failure. The only treatments are kidney dialysis and kidney transplantation. This research shows that even in healthy athletes, kidney function was impacted and that ought to send a message to anyone who is on a high-protein weight loss diet," concluded Dr. Crawford.

American cancer association:

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community- based voluntary health organization. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS has state divisions and more than 3,400 local offices

A pound of chicken wings with blue cheese dip now tops the so-called "healthy menu" for a national restaurant chain one sign of the low-carbohydrate diet trend that is sweeping our overweight nation. To cancer experts, a diet that helped Americans lose weight and keep it off would be welcome. Researchers have confirmed that extra body fat leads to an estimated 90,000 cancer deaths each year.

But a low-carb diet can be a high-risk option when it comes to health. ACS nutrition expert Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, warns that low-carb dieters can fall into eating habits that may increase the risk of developing cancer later in life. In short: man cannot live on steak alone.

Visions of Steak, Bacon, and Eggs

"Eating more vegetables and fruits -- or both together -- has been linked to a lower risk of lung, oral, esophageal, stomach and colon cancer," she explained. Scientists don't know which nutrients are most protective against cancer, so ACS nutrition guidelines call for eating a wide variety of colorful vegetables and fruit. In general, the more colorful the food is, the more cancer-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals it contains. Adults should eat at least five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day for cancer prevention. Actually, if people really followed the low-carb diets as they're designed, they'd likely be eating more servings of vegetables than before."

"To the extent that people limit their consumption of refined carbohydrates such as cake, cookies, and soda, thats good," Doyle explained. But, she said, people should not limit their intake of whole grain foods, fruits, and vegetables, as some low-carb diet plans advise.

Missing Nutrients and the Problem of Saturated Fat

Nearly all grain products, fruits, and some vegetables are banned in the first few weeks of a typical low-carbohydrate diet to trigger a change in metabolism and to reduce carb cravings. Dieters are told to keep their carbohydrate intake below 20 grams a day to force the body to burn fat for energy. This can mean missing out on the important vitamins and minerals found in restricted foods like grains, fruits, milk, and yogurt the last two being important sources of calcium. As a result, many low-carb diet plans recommend taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement with calcium.

And that raises another concern -- a concern about cancer.

"Diets high in saturated fat increase the risk of prostate and colon cancer," explained Doyle. ACS recommends people limit their intake of saturated fat." Recently, low-carb diet programs too have addressed the saturated fat issue by putting more emphasis on healthier protein sources chicken, turkey, and fish, for example, rather than unlimited servings of red meat.

Does a Low Carb Diet Stand the Test of Time?

"At issue is whether these diets result in longer-term maintenance of that weight loss," said Doyle. "So far there's little evidence that that is the case. One study put both a low-carb diet and a low-fat diet to the test.

Results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and found people on the Atkins plan, the original low-carb diet, lost more weight, more quickly, than a comparison group of people on a standard low-fat diet. But a year later, the Atkins dieters were no lighter than the low-fat diet group.

So with 64% of Americans currently overweight, what are we to do? "If you want to lose weight, you've got to cut back total calories and exercise more," Doyle insisted. "The real key to long-term weight loss is watching portions and overall calorie intake. Too many people are only focusing on one aspect of the diet: avoiding carbohydrates. Counting carbs alone is not going to do it."

* Choose protein sources that are low in saturated fats: chicken, turkey, fish and legumes instead of red meats.

* Eat five or more servings of colorful vegetables and fruit each day.

* Eat at least three servings of whole grain foods each day, such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, and whole grain cereals

* Be sure half of your grain foods come from whole grain sources.

Behind the Rise in Obesity: Soda, Pizza, and 'Biggie Sized' Foods

A recent report on Americans' food intake offers clues to what dieters might do to buck the trends and lose weight instead. Over the past 30 years, the average number of calories we eat each day has surged upward -- with most of the extra calories coming from refined carbohydrates. And that’s the point, says Doyle. Eating a lower carb diet by cutting back on these types of carbs, rather than whole grains and fruits, is the way to go.

The report even points to specific foods and habits: factors contributing to the increase in energy intake in the United States include consumption of food away from home; increased energy consumption from salty snacks, soft drinks, and pizza; and increased portion sizes." The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention breaks down calorie intake for men and women as follows:

Average Calorie Intake per Day

1971 2000 Change

Women 1,542 1,877 Up 22%

Men 2,450 2,618 Up 7%

Source: "Trends in Intake of Energy and Macronutrients – United States 1971-2000," February 6, 2004

Couch Potato Culture

People who want to try a low-carb diet may get the best results by limiting both potatoes and long hours on the couch. Boosting physical activity should be a part of any diet or other weight control program, according to Doyle.

For cancer prevention, there's evidence that physical activity itself helps lower cancer risk in addition to its role in helping people maintain a healthy body weight. The ACS recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on at least 5 days a week. Doyle says the most important change in physical activity, however, is one most people can make now: to move from being sedentary to incorporating even a moderate degree of activity into their daily routines.

The Bottom Line

Eating a mostly plant-based diet with limited amounts of saturated fat, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight are key to preventing cancer. If you’re one of the many, though, who are going the low-carb route, follow these guidelines:

* Choose protein sources that are low in saturated fat -- chicken, turkey, fish, and legumes -- instead of excessive amounts of red meats.

* Eat five or more servings of colorful vegetables and fruits each day.

* Eat at least three servings of whole-grain foods each day, such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, and whole-grain cereals. (If you’re looking for whole wheat bread, the first ingredient on the bread's nutrition label should read "whole-wheat flour."). Even if you’re limiting breads, cereals, rice, pastas and the like, shoot for at least half of your grain sources to be whole grain.

Regular exercise, a nutritious diet rich in fruits and vegetables, a healthy weight researchers have confirmed that these lifestyle factors, which each person can control, are key to lowering cancer risk.

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