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By Bonnie Sprinkle 8/2003
A day doesn't go by that at least one person doesn’t ask me about the newest low carb diet that they
are on. Or maybe I should say that
someone doesn’t TELL me how wonderful the low carb diet is that they are on. I
explain that low carb and or high protein diets will make you lose weight. Most people lose right away, if you only are a
little overweight you will lose 10 or 20 pounds but if you have 100 lbs to lose you will drop 30 to 50 lbs right away, within
the first 3 months. But at the same time you will also lose muscle, lose bone density, store more fat, lose energy and become
depressed or sluggish, put your health at risk, plateau out in weeks and gain it all back plus more. So the weight is gone,
perhaps you’re a size or 2 smaller but is arthritis acting up more, are you able to function throughout the day. Have
you tightened at all or are you just happy that the pounds are off on the scales.
Whatever the reason most people who lose weight this way are hostile to the fact the it is not a true weight
loss, pounds are less but body fat percentages have increased. OK that’s the layman's explanation.
I leave the fancy double talk to the diet book authors. They need double talk to convince folks of what is actually a horrible
diet. Now here it is in more detail from a recent study by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases:
Low-carbohydrate, high-protein (LCHP) diets can increase the risk of kidney stones, can reduce the body’s ability to
absorb calcium. Weight is shed in the short term but not successful in the long tern and MAY EVEN BE HAZARDOUS TO A PERSONS
HEALTH. Dieters on these LCHP diets had higher levels of calcium in their urine, suggesting a decreased absorption of the
bone-building mineral. (I’ve been telling my members this for 10 years.) As the study volunteers lost weight they developed
ketones. I recently read a book from one of the leading ladies fitness chains, in talking about cutting
out complex carbs, which they recommend, they say something like this. It’s not an exact quote but here’s the
idea. “headaches are a normal part of the reduction of complex carbs, your body is producing ketones and now you will
burn fat as fuel”. When the body is forced to burn fat as a fuel as opposed to burning complex carbs as it is meant
to do, the body will STORE MORE FAT so as to have an excess of available fuel. The body has been put into fight or flight
syndrome. So here we have a supposed quality Ladies fitness program (top in the nation) telling people it is OK to let the
body produce ketones for weight loss or fat loss. Apparently the public buys it. What this does create is someone incapable
of exercising because the body is in such a state of deterioation. That individual is apt to pass out on the treadmill. Some
folks comment on a feeling of euphoria, folks you're ready to DROP. And without the healthy eating in place is storing more
fat by trying to exercise with this horrible diet. Oh, back to that Ladies fitness program, it has been
compared to McDonald’s in their success. I must ask: McDonalds is successful, at what price to our health? Being popular
or giving the public what they want is not necessarily a mark of a productive fitness / health program.
I written more on this subject and it can be found on my web site, in
the newsletter under: Protein Diets:
are you one of the 20% who can
thrive on this diet? I do believe Americans are becoming carb intolerant more and more frequently
but don’t blame the potato or rice, blame the fat free /low fat wheat products.
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