Report Links Atkins Diet to Liver Complication

Doctors are raising new questions concerning the safety of the Atkins Diet, according to a case study reported in The Lancet, a weekly medical journal in the U.K. The high protein, low carbohydrate diet that has become a sensation in the U.S. in recent years may be linked to serious health complications.

Atkins stresses meat, butter and other dairy products -- high-fat foods traditionally limited in classic diets -- but greatly reduces a dieter's intake of carbohydrates (potatoes, pasta, rice, et cetera) and recommends significantly reducing the amount of fruits and vegetables ingested. The Atkins premise is that a carbohydrate-starved body will quickly start to burn up stored fat cells, a process known as ketosis.

However, the study reported in the Lancet says that doctors at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital are blaming Atkins for life-threatening complications in the case of a woman who had stringently adhered to the diet. The patient in question is a 40 year-old, obese woman who reported a weight loss of about 20 pounds per month after beginning the diet.

She ate meat, cheese and salads, supplemented by minerals and vitamins sold by Atkins Nutritionals Inc., the company founded by the late diet pioneer Robert Atkins in 1989. But despite her weight loss, the patient's urine and blood analysis showed severe ketoacidosis -- a condition where dangerously high levels of ketone acids build up in the liver as a result of insulin depletion.

Typically, ketoacidosis is seen in diabetics and starvation victims, and can lead to a coma. The patient responded well to rehydration and glucose infusion treatment and left the hospital after four days.

"Our patient had an underlying ketosis caused by the Atkins diet, and developed severe ketoacidosis, possibly when her oral intake was compromised from mild pancreatitis or gastroenteritis," said her team of physicians, led by Dr. Klaus-Dieter Lessnau. "This problem may become more recognized as this diet becomes increasingly popular worldwide."

In a commentary also published in The Lancet, Lyn Steffen and Jennifer Nettleton of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health blasted Atkins as nutritionally unbalanced.

"Low-carbohydrate diets for weight management are far from healthy, given their association with ketosis, constipation or diarrhea, halitosis, headache and general fatigue to name a few. These diets also increase the protein load to the kidneys and alter the acid balance of the body, which result in loss of minerals from bone stores, thus compromising bone integrity," Steffen and Nettleton said.

With the widespread popularity of the Atkins Diet, this incident will surely not be the last. Be sure you understand the difference between eating good carbs and eliminating carbohydrates altogether. Don't forget that bread and pasta are important parts of a balanced diet and that combining moderate amounts of carbohydrates with regular exercise is the best way to ensure long-term health.

-- Randall Stevens

Babysteps to Health

Slow and steady wins the race. When you slowly take off the pounds and stick to an exercise program, you are more likely to keep those pounds from coming back. Look at every pound lost as a small victory in the road to health.
Don't set yourself up for failure; set goals that are attainable. Lofty goals are hard to meet and only leave you frustrated.
Make it easier on yourself--use half the cream and sugar in your coffee. Make small changes that add up to a big defecit but don't leave you feeling like your giving up everything you love.
Reward your success--the right way. We'd all like to celebrate that 5 pound milestone with a hunk of chocolate cake, but consider treating yourself in a different way. Why take five steps forward and then two back?
Keep it interesting. Variety is the spice of life; try new things and new foods. If you eat yourself into boredom, you won't be able to stick to a diet or workout routine.
Small changes for big results. Love eggs? Ditch the yolks. Chicken? Lose the skin and try baking or grilling instead of frying. It all adds up over time.
Keep track of activity. Keeping a log or journal of your workouts not only keeps you honest, it allows you to take a look back and see just how far you've come.
If you must eat sweets, eat dark chocolate because it has many health benefits
Stay away from the scale. When your clothes get looser and your measuments shrink should be proof enough that you are on the right track. Numbers on a scale are just overrated.

When is a Fad Diet a Bad Diet?

Time for a reality check: there is no magic bullet, instant cure, or easy way out. Losing weight is not easy, and many fad diets fall easily into the bad diet category. Be wary of any diet or weight-loss program that:

Promises rapid weight loss. Any weight loss of more than 2 pounds per week is too rapid, unsafe, and is unlikely to stay off.
Promises easy weight loss without exercise or that weight loss can be maintained without lifestyle changes.
Uses miracle or magical foods. No food can melt away fat or undo years of overeating and lack of exercise.
It's basis lies in consuming only one (or a limited number) of foods, encourages consuming certain foods in mass quantities, or calls for specific food combinations.
Relies on undocumented case histories. Testimonials and anecdotes mean nothing if there is no scientific data to back up claims.
Promotes unproven or inauthentic weightloss aids such as herbs, supplements, body wraps, pills, cellulite creams, etc.
Sound too good to be true. Most of the time it's because they are.

Splurge vs. Smart: Dining Out Without Breaking Your Diet

High-calorie, fat-laden, large portioned restaurant meals don't have to be a diet breaker. With some careful reading, you too can enjoy a night out without the guilt of a caloric splurge.

When dining American, be wary of words like buttery, fried, pan-fried, crispy, au gratin, creamed, sauteed, and hollandaise. Look for items that are described as steamed, broiled, grilled, roasted and poached to help cut back on calories and fat.

In the mood for a little Italiano? Sauces created from cream or cheese, such as Alfredo sauce, quickly pack in the fat. Go for sauces that are tomato based, and take half home with you--almost all pasta dishes weigh it at well over a serving or two.

Craving some late-night Chinese? Stay clear of batter-coated, breaded, or deep-fried foods and go for the stir-fry. Plain rice is better than fried, and go easy on the sauces; soy sauce and other Asian sauces tend to have high sodium content.