Low-carb craze hits campus, surrounding cafes

Dr. Robert Atkins, who died in a fall last year, has left alegacy — his diet. And it has now come to restaurants nearthe SMU campus.

Restaurants have been offering low-carbohydrate menus to caterto the increasing number of people who have joined in the Atkinsdiet.

Places close to SMU like Two Rows, EZ’s, Subway, TGIFriday’s, 7-Eleven and the Market all offer “Atkinsfriendly” low-carb choices to aid in the effort to loseweight.

Of all of these, only Subway and TGI Friday’s have the”official Atkins sanctioned” menus the carry the”net-carb” seals.

The net-carb seal, according to the Atkins website, lists thenumber of carbohydrates “controlled carb-ers” have tocount. The numbers are adjusted to subtract carbohydrates such asfiber, glycerin and sugar alcohols. These carbs are either notdigested or are digested but do not impact blood sugar more thannegligibly.

The new menus, which were released three weeks ago, have beenpopular if the reaction at Two Rows is any indication.

“We sold over 100 dishes off our new, low-carb menu in oneshift,” said Kisha Carpenter, a server at Two Rows.

The Atkins diet has been around since 1972. It wasn’tuntil recently that the diet has emerged as an accepted way to shedpounds. Even celebrities like Jennifer Anniston have tried cuttingcarbs.

The diet is based on the research that shows the body storescarbohydrates as fats. By limiting the intake of carbohydrates, thebody is forced to use fats and proteins in the foods and in thebody’s stores, which causes weight loss.

According to atkins.com, people have lost anywhere from 66-134pounds.

During the induction phase, dieters are supposed to limit dailycarbohydrates intake to 20 grams, the equivalent of three looselypacked cups of lettuce.

Carbohydrates are found in pastas, breads, fruits, vegetables aswell as some medications. Atkins warns people to limit refinedcarbohydrates like sugar and white flour and encourages eating abalance of fats and consuming a variety of protein sources, such asred meat, fish, poultry and tofu.

Still, health professionals are not embracing the dietwholeheartedly.

“People are losing weight,” said registereddietitian and SMU dining service employee Susan Duncan, “butthey have to be careful of the health risks involved.”

Health professionals are divided about the diet. The AmericanHeart Association, The American Cancer Society and the DiabetesAssociation all agree that the Atkins diet is bad for yourhealth.

Among the problems, the high levels of protein increase thelevels of proteins found in the body, which causes tremendousstrain on the kidneys and liver say health professionals. Even theAtkins Web site recommends people with severe kidney disease(creatinine over 2.4) not do any phase of Atkins.

A lesser problem is that the early stage of ketosis causes badbreath.

“We need a balance of all our food groups,” Duncansaid. She recommends consulting the food pyramid to ensure the bodyreceives proper nutrition.

Before beginning any diet, Aktins.com urges dieters to consulttheir physician.