Need a good chuckle? Read "Consumer Diet Guide: Sizing Up America's Most Popular Diets".
Full text article here.

Of course, Atkins got the big ole thumbs down--too much protein and fat, PLUS it makes you smell bad. However, I was surprized at their scathing review of South Beach. I always thought the media loved that one. Read this snippet:

South Beach Diet
If you need structure, here's one of the strictest diets on the market. Cardiologist Arthur Agatston's diet is divided into three phases: Eliminate Cravings, Lose Steadily, and Maintain. Strict guidelines about reduced-fat dairy, lean proteins, veggies and healthy fats are part of every phase.

Pros: "The core of this diet is a heart-health promoting, balanced diet that most people can follow if they don't mind the rules," says Hendel.

Cons: Dr. Jan Evans, R.D., of Richmond, Va., warns, "The first two phases are unhealthy, unbalanced, and not only cause fluid loss [and] dehydration, but can cause ketosis and electrolyte imbalance. The diet is too restrictive in the first two phases, and lacks essential nutrients."

Happy New Year!

Oh geezzz....

There are plenty of reasons to bash South Beach, but because it causes KETOSIS??? Freaking moron.

Jeezzusss! Again with the ketosis being evil! Keeps bears alive through the winter don't it? : )

[QUOTE=Absinthe62]The diet is too restrictive in the first two phases, and lacks essential nutrients." QUOTE]

What "essential nutrients???" Are they talking about those "essential" carbs??? I bet if they did some nutritional analysis, they'd find you get all necessary vitamins & minerals. This is just a stupid assumption based on the notion that the body needs carbs.

I saw one of the last television interviews Dr. Atkins ever gave before his tragic accident. It was conducted by a debutante-looking doctor/TV host from here in Toronto. Did she compliment him on the thousands he had helped over the years in his private practice? Or the possibly millions he's helped with his books? Nope. She almost immediately started in with the whole fiber/missing nutrient thingy. While remaining polite, Atkins became impatient and said something to the effect of; "Look...you and I are doctors, people come to us 'cuz they are sick, they have diabetes etc. and what are most of us doing? Telling them to go home and eat flour!! C'mon!!"

That interview went off like a gunshot for me. Needless to say, the pixie-like doctor ended the show from her cozy Toronto studio with the usual,"Dr. Atkins has some good ideas about sugar ...blah...blah...blah...constipation..blah...micronutrients..blah." and basically resorting to the usual intellectual eye-rolling about him. She's now battling cancer....(may she live a hundred years.)