Nutritional Concerns
Low-carbohydrate diets typically include quantities
of cholesterol, fat, saturated fat, and protein that
exceed the recommended safe limits set by the National
Academy of Sciences, and are often low in fiber and
other important dietary constituents.10 The Nutrition
Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity,
and Metabolism of the American Heart Association states,
“High-protein diets are not recommended because
they restrict healthful foods that provide essential
nutrients and do not provide the variety of foods needed
to adequately meet nutritional needs. Individuals who
follow these diets are therefore at risk for compromised
vitamin and mineral intake, as well as potential cardiac,
renal, bone, and liver abnormalities overall.”
1
A nutrient analysis is presented below for the sample
menus for the three stages of the Atkins diet as described
in Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution (M. Evans & Co.,
1999), pp. 257-259, using Nutritionist V., Version 2.0,
for Windows 98 (First DataBank, Inc., Hearst Corporation,
San Bruno, CA). The menus analyzed were as follows:
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