2000 Gals 2500 Guys

[julirama723]

The reason why Atkins works for us is because WE are in control of the food; the food does not control us.

People can choose to eat a diet made up of whatever foods they please. I choose Atkins because I am eating foods that are healthy, foods that are satisfying, and foods that will hopefully PREVENT me from repeating my family's diabetic history.

I do not eat a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon everyday. I do not eat massive portions of meat drenched in butter. While the majority of my calories come from natural fat sources, the majority of my food, volume-wise, is from vegetables. On any given day, I usually eat 10 cups of vegetables, 4-6x the DAILY RECOMMENDED ALLOWANCE put forth by the USDA. I consider myself a carnivorous vegetarian. Protein generally makes up 25-30% of my daily diet, though many days, it is somewhat lower. Atkins is NOT high-protein, nor is it specifically carnivorous. Vegetarians can follow Atkins. I often eat non-animal sources of protein, such as beans, nuts, and tofu.

I've tried the reduced-calorie plan. For me, it doesn't work, because of the foods I was erroneously choosing to get my calories. Obvious foods, such as refined sugars and starches make my blood sugar go haywire; eating a white flour roll has the same effect on my body that a shot of whiskey would have on an alcoholic's. It's disaster, and it begins the downward spiral into addiction. Being on Atkins, I've also found "healthy" foods that induce this same reaction: cashews, watermelon, apples. To eat one of these foods puts me in danger of losing control.

Now, don't they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away?

You may choose to listen to antiquated adages, but I prefer to trust my own body.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by TammyCat

I've read the China Study and it only confirmed what was already known. Diets high in straches and low in animal products result in lower rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, MS, arthritis, ADHD, clolitis, stroke, hyper tension... the list goes on. Let it suffice to say that people who eat less meat and healthier.

You didn't read it too carefully. If you did you would have read these paragraphs, which contradict your assertion.

http://www.westonaprice.org/traditio..._in_china.html

In general, the modern Chinese diet does not protect them against cancer. The overall rate of cancer in China is twice that of the United States. The Chinese have less cancer of the colon, lung and breast, but far greater levels esophageal, stomach and liver cancer. Heart disease mortality is greater in the US but the Chinese have more stroke—in some districts the rate of death by stroke for those under 65 is as high as 8 percent. While the Chinese have made great strides in reducing the incidence of infectious disease and rates of infant mortality, these still remain major public health problems, especially in areas that are either crowded or remote. TB and parasite infections remain common.

Of particular concern is the high rate of mental retardation—over ten million cases in China, including hundreds of thousands with overt cretinism, especially in the central regions.11 This is blamed on a lack of iodine and the United Nations has called for a World-Bank-financed campaign to iodize salt in China. This will help the Chinese government eliminate the thriving black market in salt, but as Chinese salt is already rich in iodine, it is not likely to solve the problem. Another explanation is the blinding poverty of the region, where each village sports a population of "idiots" whose families can afford to eat nothing more that wheat porridge.

In the 1980s, a group of researchers from Cornell University carried out a massive dietary survey, covering all 25 of China's farflung provinces, in an effort to determine food consumption and disease patterns. This study is often cited as proof that plant-based diets are healthier than those based on animal foods like meat and milk. Study director T. Colin Campbell claims that the Cornell findings suggest "that a diet high in animal products produces disease, and a diet high in grains, vegetables and other plant matter produces health."12 But the Cornell survey data, when carefully studied, does not support such claims.13 What the Cornell researchers discovered was that meat intake in China was highest in the western border region and very low in a number of impoverished areas centering on Sian. They found that meat eaters had lower triglycerides and less cirrhosis of the liver—and that they took more snuff—but otherwise they found no strong correlation, either negative or positive, with meat eating and any disease.

Again, reading is knowledge....provided you are able to read thoroughly.

While it's been fun to "discuss" this with you, it's painfully obvious that you haven't read up on as many diets as you claimed in your initial post. And it's equally obvious that you haven't read up on Atkins, that is, read Dr. Atkins' books. So, please educate yourself and when you have, come back and have an intelligent, meaningful discussion with us here at ADBB.

[Bren]

Welcome to ADBB!
Our goal here AND our only goal here is to help people doing the Atkins Way of Life.

Our goal here is not where this thread is going. Yes, it is informative.............but totally unproductive and IMHO.......rather poor form.

First off, wrong forum!
Second off..........we are hard on ideas and soft on people!

I am closing this thread now due to the above reasons.