Is the Atkins diet unsafe?
A high protein diet like the atkins diet can be dangerous! High protein foods, such as meat, are usually high in saturated fats. Foods high in saturated fats are usually high in cholesterol too. The long term health risks of a diet high in protein like the atkins diet include: High intake of animal products are usually recommended which can be high in saturated fats and cholesterol, associated with a range of conditions including heart disease. Increased risk of developing gout and gall bladder colic. Kidney problems in those with already impaired kidney function or people with diabetes. The Nurses Healthy Study in the US on 121,700 women has shown (Knight et al., Annuals Internal Med 2003; 138: 460-67) that high protein intakes (especially from animal foods and fish) between 86g to 150g per day can cause further decline in kidney function in women who already have impaired function. In contrast, high protein intake did not affect women with normal kidney function. Researchers estimate that about 30% of all adults may have mild undetected kidney problems which could be worsened by high intakes of animal foods.
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