The Food Standards Agency, responsible for the UK's nutritional guidance, claims that low-carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, are linked to cancer, heart disease, and even obesity.
Their statement, which can be found on the agency's website, says: "cutting out starchy foods, or any food group, can be bad for your health because you could be missing out on a range of nutrients," and that "this type of diet also tends to be unrealistic and dull, and not palatable enough to be tolerated for a long time."
Shockingly, the statement also claims that "high-fat diets are also associated with obesity, which is increasing in the UK. People who are obese are more likely to develop conditions such as diabetes and some cancers. Low-carb diets tend to be high in fat, too, and eating a diet that is high in fat could increase your chances of developing coronary heart disease."
The advice contained in the statement says that you should try and make sure that carbs make up around a third of your diet, instead of trying to avoid them altogether.
A spokesperson for Atkins retaliated by saying that research shows that the consumption of great amounts of carbs with a high-glycemic index can also lead to coronary heart disease.
They added that "at all stages of Atkins, we encourage consumption of nutrient-dense foods including plenty of vegetables, with the introduction of fruits and whole grains later in the program as one approaches ideal weight."
What this goes to show is that both consuming too little or too many carbohydrates can be potentially harmful to your body, so trying your best to make sure your meals are nutritionally balanced will go a long way to making you fitter and stronger!
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