I Knew It!

Almost year ago I watched disgusted as my uncle slathered mayonnaise on his bunless cheeseburger. No vegetables, no other toppings--just cheese, beef and mayonnaise. A shiver ran down my spine as I asked what he was doing. He answered that he had just started the Atkins diet.

A month later, my uncle dropped 25 pounds and looked great, but I knew it was too good to be true. How can a diet devoid of most vegetables, whole grains and fruit be good for you? It didn't add up. Six months after his incredible weight loss, my uncle went off the Atkins diet and gained back the 25 pounds, plus 10 more.

Though the diet has helped people lose weight, it also has an unwanted effect--permanently damaging blood vessels and raising LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) levels by about seven percent, according to an article on MSNBC.com.

Researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center found that other diets (the Ornish and South Beach Diets) "lowered cholesterol and benefited artery function." The key? The diets with fewer calories from fat were better for you. Shocker? I don't think so. Red meat is bad; lean protein is good.

Dr. Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, said that the most effective diets stress vegetables, low-fat sources of protein such as beans and legumes and whole grains.
Not surprisingly, he doesn't recommend the Atkins diet.