Jumat, 29 Juni 2012

Can Atkins-style diets raise heart attack risk for women? Eating high levels of protein can increase chance by a quarter

Can Atkins-style diets raise heart attack risk for women? Eating high levels of protein can increase chance by a quarter

By Sophie Borland

PUBLISHED: 18:42 EST, 26 June 2012 | UPDATED: 11:37 EST, 29 June 2012

Unbalanced diet: Women with diets low in carbohydrate but high in protein were found to be more at risk from heart attacks

Unbalanced diet: Women with diets low in carbohydrate but high in protein were found to be more at risk from heart attacks

Women on the Atkins-style diet could be in danger of heart attacks and strokes later in life, claim researchers.

They found that regularly eating large amounts of protein but very little carbohydrate increases the risk by more than a quarter.

Experts are now urging women to follow a balanced diet rather than trying to cut out potatoes, bread, rice and pasta.

Researchers from Greece and Sweden carried out a 15-year study on 43,400 women aged 30 to 49.

Those whose diets were low in carbohydrate but high in protein were found to be 28 per cent more at risk from heart attacks and strokes.

But the researchers, based at the University of Athens, said the likelihood that they would fall victim was still very small.

If 10,000 women followed the Atkins-style diet, an extra five would be likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack compared to another 10,000 women eating normally.

Victoria Taylor, senio r dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘This study highlights the need for us to achieve balance in our diets.

'Don’t feel you have to choose between carbohydrates or protein. Eating a mixture of all food groups, rather than cutting anything out completely, will help you to stay healthy inside and out.

Full English? A diet high in protein but low in carbohydrates can play havoc with cholesterol levels, say scientists

Full English? A diet high in protein but low in carbohydrates can play havoc with cholesterol levels, say scientists

‘Try and include lean proteins and low-fat dairy, wholegrain and high fibre carbohydrates, along with lots of fruit and veg and small amounts of healthy fats.

‘Enjoying all of these in a balanced way is far better for your heart and your waistline than trying to stick to a strict diet.’

The study is published on the British Medical Journal’s website.

A typical Atkins-style diet plan consists of eggs and bacon for breakfast, a chicken salad for lunch and fish and broccoli for dinner. 

A spokesman for the Atkins diet said: 'To suggest this is a report on an 'Atkins-style' diet is misleading. This observational study simply states that 'fewer carbs' and 'higher protein' intake was associated with higher incidence of heart disease. In fact, Atkins is a nutritional strategy which stresses nutrient-dense carbohydrates as part of a balanced eating plan.'

The diet was devised by American heart specialist Robert Atkins, who died aged 72, in 2003.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

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Another silly study, Atkins involves eating fish for protein, fish oil stops heart attacks, and strokes. When you cook meat at high temperatures, frying etc, you have to sprinkle on the herb rosemary while you are cooking your meat, as it stops acrylamides forming which cause cancer, heart problems, and stroke. And while we are there, were all these people using olive oil which is good for the heart, we are not told are we ?

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Quite why anyone would imagine that a diet low in fruit and vegetables and high in saturated fat (and with too much protein) could possibly be healthy is entirely beyond me. - Peter Freemantle, London, 27/06/2012 08:01 Erm. News flash. We evolved eating this way. We wouldn't be here without saturated fat. That's why 50% of breast milk is saturated fat. Our brain needs it. Research is starting to suggest that the currently popular low fat diets are instrumental in the ongoing rise in Alzheimer's and motor neurone issues in younger and younger people.

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. Insulin levels only raise when sugar is taken. We consume wholegrain carbs. - ASH PEACE, Scotland, 27/06/2012 11:45 whole wheat and white bread have essentially the same impact on blood sugar, which is to say you might as well be eating a big spoonful of sugar. Sorry to burst your bubble there. Google it if you don't believe me.

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The research wasn't about Atkins or any specific diet, but about how the ratio of protein to carbohydrate in the diet affects cardiovascular health in women. The connection with Atkins is a journalistic invention.

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I am following a healthy low fat mod carbs, mod protein diet. I have lost 2 stone 3lbs in 4 months. Everything in moderation - that is the key:)

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Before you get all defensive about the Atkins diet, read the article . "If 10,000 women followed the Atkins diet, an extra five would be likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack" - that's a massive 0.05% increase. So don't sweat it. Eating lots of protein undeniably reduces the appetite and will help to reduce weight,that's it - that's the Atkins diet - simple and effective.Eat the high protein stuff then eat what you like because you won't feel hungry anyway - if people wish to punish themselves by not eating Carbohydrates then far be it from me to laugh at them. :-))

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I have the Atkin's book right here and that is NOT a typical diet plan. It focuses on vegetables and protein for 3 meals and two snacks for two weeks then adds carbohydrates back slowly. People have different carbohydrate tolerance levels so your maintanence level of carbohydrates is specific to you. Fried foods are NOT part of the new Atkins btw!

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Does it only affect women?- Ken, Birmingham, 27/6/2012 1:24...In most cases yes, all because women tend to be more weight conscious to want to look petite, unlike men who just want to look average.

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What 'risk factor' are they referring to? If its cholesterol then this is nonsense. Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology looked at 52,087 individuals between the ages of 20 and 74. After adjusting for factors like age, smoking and blood pressure, researchers found women with high cholesterol (more than 270 mg/dl) had a 28 percent lower mortality risk than women with low cholesterol (under 193 mg/dl). Risk for heart disease, cardiac arrest and stroke also declined as cholesterol levels rose.

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Who funded this study I wonder?? Because it is absolute nonsense!!!! If we NEEDED to eat bread, pasta, rice and potatoes to protect our hearts, we wouldn't bl00dy be here as our ancestors had no access to these foods and we would have died out long ago. Modern, mass produced versions of these food are not just unnecessary in the human diet, modern production methods mean they are absolute POISONS. My family are considerably healthier since adopting a low carb/high fat diet.

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