The Eco Atkins diet is a meatless version of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. The original Atkins diet and most other high-protein diets include large amounts of meat, poultry and fish. Low-carbohydrate, high-animal protein diets, which are advocated for weight loss, may not promote the desired reduction in LDL cholesterol concentration, and can raise the risk of some cancers and cholesterol related heart disease.
The protein in the Eco Atkins diet comes from plant foods. Primary sources are gluten (the protein in wheat, available in stores as seitan) and soy, though some also comes from vegetables, nuts and other grains.
So far, the only research on this diet is a single one-month study that involved 47 people. It compared weight loss on the Eco Atkins diet to a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet, which was also meatless but derived most of its protein from dairy products and eggs.
Weight loss was similar for both diets, just short of 9 pounds in one month. Although reductions in LDL cholesterol concentration and total cholesterol were greater for the low-carbohydrate compared with the high-carbohydrate diet, LDL cholesterol dropped on both diets. That’s no surprise, since both diets dropped saturated fat consumption below the 7 percent of calories recommended to reduce blood cholesterol.
This study shows that reducing carbohydrates does not have to mean increasing meat and unhealthy fats. But we need to see longer studies involving more people to check safety and long-term effectiveness when people find and prepare foods themselves rather than having it provided for them. We already know that plant-based diets are healthy and can promote weight loss if calorie consumption is reduced.
References:
1. Karen Collins. American Institute for Cancer Research.
2. David J. A. Jenkins, et al. The Effect of a Plant-Based Low-Carbohydrate (“Eco-Atkins”) Diet on Body Weight and Blood Lipid Concentrations in Hyperlipidemic Subjects. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(11):1046-1054.
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I don’t know how good it is to suggest eating extra gluten. Gluten is a major threat to health.