If Dr. Atkins were alive and there was a DANDR 2009...

[matawguro]

Just a bit of a thought experiment.

If Dr. Robert Atkins were still alive today, and he came out with a 2009 edition of DANDR, how different would it be from DANDR 2002?


The Fat Fast

I think the Fat Fast will be stricken from the book. Around the time of Dr. Atkins' death, all references to the Fat Fast was removed from Atkins.com. The Fat Fast is dangerous to those who are metabolically resistant. I'm guessing would try to keep non-qualified dieters from even trying the Fat Fast.


Low-Carb Products

There would probably be a whole new chapter on this, dealing with the common ingredients found low-carb products on the market now and which ones to avoid. I would expect a discussion on sugar alcohols too. I'm not sure how Dr. Atkins would push Atkins Nutritional products or whether he would recommend such products for induction as Atkins Nutritionals does today.


OWL

One of the big differences in the 1972 book and the 2002 book is OWL. OWL is basically on the Glycemic Index. In the 2002 book, he referred to GI as "A Beautiful Tool". In one of his articles at Atkins.com prior to his death, he mentions how the Glycemic Index was obsolete compared to the more realistic Glycemic Load. He cites that a cup of carrots has a higher GI than a cup of spaghetti noodles, but how many stopped eating at one cup of spaghetti.

At the time of his death, Dr. Atkins was working on the Atkins Glymic Ranking to give a more accurate picture of how various carbohydrates affect blood sugar. I'm guessing this ranking would significantly change the rungs in OWL.


What do you think?

What else do you think would change in DANDR2009?

[SunnySmile501]

Before his death, he had already sold the low carb foods part of Atkins. He was only still running his clinic by that time. So, him still being alive wouldn't change much about how the Frankenfood side of the business evolved.

I think he would be in despair over what has happened to his "diet." I think he would hate what it has become.

[liv]

I think it would have been great to see the real Atkins diet evolve. It changed a lot with all the experiments and new research being incorporated between 1972 to 2002. I would love to see the OWL part being expanded. And I think I agree with you Robbie the idea of the GL may have become more significant.

I think one of the problems the Atkins Company has now is it has to sell the diet since the big popularity wave is over. Perhaps Atkins would have had to make those considerations too. His wife in her website is however staying truer to the original Atkins than the company is so who knows.

[Kellen]

Sunny Smile :I think he would be in despair over what has happened to his "diet." I think he would hate what it has become.

Hi SunnySmile, I'm curious, how has the plan changed since the 2002 DANDR was written?

[SunnySmile501]

Originally Posted by Kellen

Hi SunnySmile, I'm curious, how has the plan changed since the 2002 DANDR was written?

There is a new rendition of the diet out that lets you drink alcohol almost right from the first. You are encouraged to make most of your breakfasts Atkins Frankenfoods (breakfast bars and shakes) with one boiled egg. You are allowed to have low carb bread almost from the start. It is geared towards processed foods and not whole, fresh foods as is the real deal Atkins diet.

Sunny!

[sandradeee]

I think he's probably turning in his grave! Atkins was originally pure proteins, vegetables and later incorporating fruits and nuts in moderation. I have tried the Atkins Bars when I was on another plan but not only did I get 'the runs', I hated that it wasn't real food.

Dr Atkins liked to keep things pure, I'd hope if he was still alive he would market the original plan and disassociate himself from the processed junk now available.

[msanjelpie]

I think he would be very proud of all the studies that have come out since his death proving that low carb diets are in fact useful and very desirable for most people. He struggled for so many years trying to convince the establishment of this fact, only to die before reaping the rewards due to him.

[sallyseachange]

I too think he would have been even stronger on the "fresh and unadulterated food" stance, when seeing the way things are moving these days. I like to think he'd disassociate his name with many of the frankenfoods brought out.

[Kathi22]

I don't think people would consider Atkins a fad diet from 2002 -2004. Dr. Atkins would have made this lifestyle something people would greatly consider more as new studies come up; and concentrate less on the fake processed foods.