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The Atkins Diet Essay

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The Atkins Diet

Am I fat? This is a question that almost every American says to him or herself everyday. Everyone is concerned with their appearance and wants to look their best all of the time. With the media today, the looks that appear to be “normal” aren’t always achievable for the average person. The question really is, to what extreme will people go to achieve the look that they want? Even if it affects their health, people today are going to great lengths to get their idea of the picture perfect body. Exercise and diets have always been a part of people’s lives, but now the new diet crazes such as the South Beach Diet, Atkins Diet, and the increasing use of diet pills that contain ephedrine, there is controversy as to the …show more content…

“High Protein diets are not recommended because they restrict healthful foods that provide essential nutrients and provide the variety of foods needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. Individuals that follow these diets are at risk for compromised vitamin and mineral intake, as well as potential cardiac, renal, bone, and liver abnormalities (Cohen, 2003).” More specifically the risk for colorectal cancer, heart disease, impaired kidney function and osteoporosis increase greatly with the use of this diet (PCRM, 2004). Colorectal Cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality (PCRM, 2004). Long term high intake of meats, especially red meat, is associated with significantly increased risk of this cancer(PCRM, 2004). Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States today. High protein diets are extremely high in dietary cholesterol and saturated fat. High levels of saturated fat clog arteries and pose additional risks to the heart (Cohen, 2003). Typical high-protein diets are associated with reduced kidney function. Over time individuals who consume very large amounts of protein risk permanent loss of kidney function (PCRM, 2004). Another risk of high protein is osteoporosis. The high intake in protein is known to lead to urinary calcium loss and has been

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