Atkins diet dangerous for kids, says top child nutritionist

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 17 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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A top child nutrition specialist has said that children should avoid the Atkins diet. Professor Bruce Rengers said that children could suffer permanent physical and mental damage as a result of being on the diet.

He says that the brain needs glucose to function properly.

The Atkins low-carb diet starves the brain of glucose (the main source of energy for the brain).

When someone is on a low-carb diet his/her body takes the energy from ketones (a by-product of fat being broken down).

According to Professor Rengers, ketones have a dulling effect on the brain. He said that low-carb diets fool the body into thinking it is starving.