More than just T-bones and pork chops

It’s sticky and steamy in London.

Last week, I received an e-mail from a colleague named Rachael in HSI’s London office. Rachael wrote to tell me about, “a ludicrous report from a leading UK newspaper (The Times), which warns that the Atkins diet is unsafe to follow in hot weather (there’s currently a heat wave in the UK makes a change!!)”

Rachael kindly included the Times article, which quoted Dr. Sarah Schenker, a dietician and spokesman for the British Nutrition Foundation. Dr. Schenker told the Times, “The body has to work harder to metabolise protein than other food types. This means that on a really hot day, people on the protein-based diet who are facing, say, the Underground could have problems. My advice would be avoid the Atkins diet in hot weather.”

Dr. Schenker seems to be unaware that the Atkins diet is not simply one plate of T-bones and pork chops after another. In fact, many fruits and vegetables are low in carbohydrates and can be eaten while following the Atkins plan.

Meanwhile, we’ve seen how a heavy intake of carbohydrates can contribute to obesity. And it’s quite obvious that obese people have a very hard time of it during extremely hot weather. If Dr. Schenker has any warm weather menu suggestions for the obese or anyone else, she didn’t share them with the Times. I guess she just showed up to bash Atkins, and then took off to find the nearest air conditioner and a heaping plate of pasta.

If you’re wondering how popular the Atkins diet is in the UK, here’s a good indicator: The only book that “Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution” is currently NOT outselling is the new Harry Potter.

I wonder if J.K. Rowling has considered writing a Harry Potter diet book? She might end up with an even bigger following than Dr. Atkins.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

Sources:

“Health Warning to Atkins Dieters as the Heat Goes on” Sam Coates and Patrick Barkham, The Times of London, 8/7/03, timesonline.co.uk