http://www.indianastatesman.com/vnew.../4181dccacbfcc

Note the link at the bottom - you can add your comments.

I hope a few of us can take the time to write thoughtful and factual rebuttals to this drivel.

If you do, please share it here.

Andrea

Here's what I responded - hopefully they'll post it.

Your work is long on rhetoric and short on facts.

1.Nutrient-dense, fiber-filled vegetables are the *foundation* of every low carb diet, including Atkins. Once past the initial two weeks, they can be eaten in almost unlimited amounts since fiber does not raise blood sugar and is subtracted from total carbohydrate intake. Most low carbers eat far more veggies than they did before - including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, asparagus, green beans, mushrooms, brussel sprouts...the list is almost endless.

2. Fruit and whole grains are eaten in increasing amounts as the dieter progresses through the program. And yes, portions are "limited". If there exists any "diet" in which portions of fruit and grain products are not limited at all, I'd love to hear about it.

3. Yes, studies have shown that the consumption of whole grains does have some health benefit. We eat whole grains! But more to the point, the Atkins diet has been shown, over and over again in clinical studies published in peer-review journals, to decrease triglycerides and other markers for coronary heart disease (including a recent study that demonstrated an drastic improvement in markers of systemic inflammation among the most obese patients). Perhaps there is more than "one way" to diet healthfully????

4. I've been following the Atkins Nutritional Approach for five years. I've lost over 100lbs. My blood work is perfect, and all I take is a basic vitamin with the addition of Omega-3's.


Next time you decide to write about Atkins or low carb, feel free to email me for some background information. Or visit the Atkins website itself for a listing of all the studies that support the diet. http://atkins.com/science/index.html (You might find the research on ketosis to be especially enlightening.) Whatever you do, please be more responsible about getting the facts of an issue before you write about it. Low Carb diets in general and the Atkins Diet in particular have been very successful - and healthy - eating styles for the millions who have done them correctly. Articles like yours that just perpetuate the myths about the diet without regard to the body of research that has been growing over the past few years do the public a great disservice.

Good response Andrea. And yes I think she is getting paid and paid 3 times. Once by the Indiana statesman and once by the wheat board and once by the milk manufacturers.

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my blog

Ok, I replied and I *TRIED* to be nice:

Ms. Coleman,
Please forgive me if I seem a bit irritated by your article, but I am aghast by your lack of research on this topic! Had I read this article 3 or 4 years ago, I would have shrugged and not given it another thought. After all, so little was known about low-carbohydrate diets until recently. But currently, there is AMPLE research and information available regarding the Atkins' way of eating, so there simply is NO excuse for your misleading, ill-informed diatribe.
For your information, the Atkins diet does NOT exclude necessary carbohydrates; it simply excludes the ones which are NOT necessary and which only contribute to an imbalance of insulin in our bodies. In fact, *most* people following Atkins today eat FAR more vegetables than they ever did pre-Atkins. Many followers of this way of eating do not even count the carbs in their vegetable intake and, in fact, consider them a "free food." Also, followers of this way of eating ensure adequate intake of calcium by eating foods rich in calcium (like cheese and spinach) which are FAR SUPERIOR to milk as a source of usable calcium. Furthermore, we DO eat fruits -- in the form of berries -- which provide ample fiber and antioxidants, and we frequently incorporate flax which is considered one of the new *superfoods*. Finally, I am most appalled by your assertion that Atkins followers are lacking in hydration as WATER is our PRIMARY source of fluid intake. By eliminating sodas, coffee, and juices, we are constantly taking in the MOST VITAL nutrient of all -- H20!
Your article is insulting to those of us who have made an INFORMED, scientific decision to eat this way and your decision to gloss over the facts and employ very outdated, no-longer-relevant criticisms of this way of eating does your audience a disservice.
If you are going to write about something which you obviously know nothing about, I suggest that you take the time to update yourself on the topic at hand; never assume that your readers are ignorant or uninformed. Thank you

Summer Kelly
freelance writer/historian
Baton Rouge, LA

Now let's see if they have the nerve to post either of our rebuttals...

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Summer

Doesnt seem like they are posting the negative feedback. Maybe they're looking for someone to kiis their behinds and say good job. HA!

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

I too sent a reply, and also included the fact that I'm a graduate of Indiana State. (I am now quite embarrassed by this fact). I wonder if that makes a difference to whether or not they post replies? Or perhaps they don't want to embarrass themselves further by the glut of real life examples of why that whole article was a steaming pile?

Stacie
(Is this what they're teaching in the Science Building these days?)
222/136

I replied also - but didn't save it. Essentially I asked her if she had read the book. Had she interviewed and long-term, successful lc dieters? Explained that no only did I read it but spent many, many hours reading articles and research analysis before choosing this woe. I emphasized that I eat from all food groups. Finally I asked why the web site says no replies posted when I knew a couple had been posted - why weren't they putting up differing opinions?
Karen

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My reply:

What a moron.

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ah, you have such a way with words, red-headed one.

I LIKE IT.......

Gee, still no feedback posted

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

I posted some feedback too (but forgot to save it). Besides tghe fact that she did no research for this article, I found her statement that Dr. Atkins' recommendation to take a vitamin supplement should be viewed as a red flag absolutely stunning. All programs recommend supplements! My doctor, who HATES any sort of diet, recommends vitamin supplements. What kind of idiot is this woman?

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Jen



179/179/120

seems to me someone had a deadline for an article.. and poof pulled a very small amount of misinformation out of her behind.. and threw it out for people who are unedjucated on this WOE, So they can find us whom are edjucated in this and criticize us for eating this way..
\
Daily I have people who have no idea on what point of LCE im at, and have no idea what eating this way consists of telling me... "Are you aloud to eat that!" "Doesnt that have carbs in it?"

Bringing that up reminds me.. of a day when i was at work, My boss's wife was nagging me saying ohh are you aloud to eat that.. and so on i mean she was just being a pain in the butt. i walked over grabed some bacon and said .. mmmm this is good.. she said.. oohhh my.. that is so fatty. there goes your diet.. <smacking fore head>

anyway... just another day in life of misinformed people bothering other people!

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01/02/04-248{ 4/29/04- 218} 6/30/04- 204
7-05-04 198 8/30/04 - 190 (got lost after that-)
4/03/08- 261 -
Goal-140-145

Hmmm... did they pull this article, cause I can't find it? Sounds like they'd be doing everyone a favor if they did!!

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Staci

I was able to access the article with Andrea's link, and posted a rebuttal
There was another link to view comments from others just left of the article. When I clicked on it, I got nothing. Too bad as I would have loved to see
a long list of all of our rebuttals!!

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Elizabeth

Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality.
-Ralph Marston

I am sorry, this is totally off topic-I am VERY new, with the dumbest question- how do a post a new thread? I'd like to introduce myself and thank all of you, for this is a great site and a great source of encouragement.