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.

Superior Athletic Performance – NO Carbs Required

The whole “high-carb diet is needed for proper training & sports performance” myth is one of the biggest misconceptions out there about. I hear it so much, that I usually don’t even bother to discuss it with people anymore. They’ve been so brainwashed by the “experts”, that they can’t even fathom that it might not be the only way (or even the “right” way).

Lets face it, we live in a world of “sugar-fueled sports”. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that most so-called “Sports drinks” are LOADED with the stuff.

I’m sure that everyone from marathon runners to bodybuilders would not hesitate to tell you that sugar and carbs are a “necessary part” of their training and recovery routine. The funny thing is, they’re dead wrong.

Top Misconceptions about Low-Carb Diets: Kidneys

This is the first part of a post series on Low-Carb misconceptions (in no particular order) that I hear ALL the time. Think of it as a bunch of posts to take care of the “low hanging fruit” on the low-carb detractor list. Besides, its always great when faced with a ‘hater’ to have quick and accurate info to shoot them down with.

This misinformation comes from the fact that people with kidney disease are often dissuaded to go on low-carb diets simply because it requires more work FROM the kidneys and liver (and very “normal” work at that too – part of the regular protein metabolism process). I don’t know how that got turned around into BLAMING low-carb for kidney disease…