Top Misconceptions about Low-Carb Diets: Atkin’s Death

Ok, let me re-phrase that – the fact that Dr. Atkins is dead is NOT the misconception. So, I hope you didn’t open this up hoping for an Atkins conspiracy theory about him retiring to Lake Tahoe with Elvis and Tupac. I’m sorry to report that he has passed. Thankfully, he has a whole team and corporation carrying on his message (and selling lots of “Atkins” branded food products to boot).

The misconception that I’m “aiming at” here is this one: “Atkins died of a heart attack, induced by following his own diet!”

Yes, yes, it would have been a nutritionist’s wet dream for a headline, however it is quite untrue.

“Eco-Atkins” Vegetarian Protein Diet Study = Meaningless

I don’t know if anyone came across these news stories on Reuters and elsewhere (and elsewhere still) today, but I couldn’t help but be slightly offended. They report on a ridiculous study that was done in Canada trying to prove that the “Eco-Atkins” diet – a “low-carb” plant-based protein diet (composed solely of gluten, *soy*, nuts, fruits, vegetables, cereals and vegetable oils) is a good tool for lowering blood cholesterol and losing weight… The result from my point of view? FAIL.