Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Kidney Stones Inevitable?
September 1, 2010 by Low Carb Website
Filed under Atkins diet
In another of Atkins Diet Misconception series, I deal with the question of kidney stones or “does the Atkins Diet impair kidney function?” First, if you have damaged kidney function already due to Chronic Kidney Disease, Metabolic disorder, or impaired kidney function, it is recommended that you do not try the Atkins Diet. There is sizable water intake on this diet, and you should follow your doctor’s orders. For everyone else, it has been proved more than once that high protein (or medium protein in the case of Atkins) is safe for kidney function. Those that rail against it have been doctors with bias (PCRM (PETA) related doctors or have relied on bad science studies where multiple items were changed at once. Studies supporting the idea of high protein being safe for HEALTHY people’s kidneys: www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov Dietary protein intake and renal function “”While protein restriction may be appropriate for treatment of existing kidney disease, we find no significant evidence for a detrimental effect of high protein intakes on kidney function in healthy persons after centuries of a high protein Western diet. … Rather, we found that habitual consumption of a high protein diet minimally affected hydration indices. … Therefore, claims that a high protein diet promotes dehydration or adversely “strains” the kidney remain speculative.” www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov March 2000 “Do regular high protein diets have potential health risks on kidney function in athletes?” To conclude …
@Catherine8raw Cellular breakdown occurs as the muscle gets used and pushed. It’s how they grow and are used. Cells break down every day, and perhaps the focus on acidity is looking for a bad guy where none exists.
@Catherine8raw Dr. Mary Ross Vernon makes the comment that following her plan (which models the Atkins Diet due to her time spent the with good doctor) that most of her patients are off medication in 72 hours.
I don’t doubt that a raw vegan diet might be able to do the same. I just would personally never find it as palatable, enriching, or potentially as healthy (inherent B12 deficiencies). For my way of thinking, the low carb approach is simply easier, better tasting, and healthier for me.
@Catherine8raw Dr. Richard Bernstein, type 1 diabetic and probably the most influential diabetic educator on the planet, has been off medication for decades following a low carb diet. I would highly suggest you read either his book or Dr. Mary Ross Vernon’s book on the topic. Dr. Vernon was up for educator of the year a few times, and was actually cohort with Dr, Atkins. She co-wrote his book on diabetes.
For more on the topic of diabetes, check out my multiple videos on the topic on YT.
I am talking mainly about type 1 diabetics, on Atkins the condition doesn’t reverse enough for them to stay of the insulin completely, Arthur De Vanny wife has very lil’ insulin via lean meat, veg/fruit, nuts & was not on Atkins diet. Caveman diet. I watched the 30 days raw, which showed that it was completely possible for a type 1 diabetic to come of his insulin, despite it being believed his body can not make any insulin (dependence), apparently a raw vegan diet reverse the condition.
Yes, I agree. I thought you just had joint pain. Wouldn’t the cellular breakdown be due to acids, like high phoshates pulling out calcium? I suppose you’ll know if it later spreads into other areas. I was just talking about the acids that build up, through an acidic diet and exercise plan.
@Catherine8raw Lactic acid pain and the pain I had are two different things. Pain is not simply caused by acids in the body. It might even be caused by cellular breakdown or micro-tears in the muscle fiber.
@Catherine8raw I am unclear what you mean by the last statement. That diabetics who follow a low carb plan and eliminate the need for all medications are actually still diabetics. Please help me follow this logic that if their HBA1c are well below 6 and their blood sugars are normalized, that former Type 2 diabetics are still diabetics?
Sure, Type 1s are because that is their genetic makeup, but ketogenic diets cures diabetes. They become sensitized to insulin again.
@Catherine8raw In terms of inflammation, ketogenics diet (diet of meat not specified other than it was included) reduces all inflammation according to multiple studies done by Jeff Volek and Eric Westman.
After research, I can see how a RAW bitter herb/veggie diet (dandelions, coriander, leaves, berries, root veggies – not hybridized, not cooked, limiting the starch release) & that mimicking a paleo hunter gatherer diet would suit us, if we are not already diabetic. Research showed diabetes reversed/cancer go’s on green/alkaline diet, wheat/barley grass, veggie based diet, only fruits (pepper/tomato/avacado). Atkins said diet in diabetics = remian latent diabetic & diet limits all complications
Avacado is 1.9g carb per 100g gives alkali nutrients (potassium) and is not acidic. It is very hard to balance out all the acid foods on a carb limit of 20-30g carb, unless spinach (oxalates/purines high) is eaten. Celery is good, as is coriander, parsley, romaine lettuce. Eating fatty meat lowers amount of phosphates, but if the animal is grain fed, these encourage inflammation, linked to causing diabetes. Nuts high in omega 6 (seasonal food) (macadamians are fine).
Exercise dehydrates, sweat encourages loss of magnesium, K, sodium and water thickens blood, so uric acid/others is more concentrated. Lactic acid is produced. Running on dairy fats/meat, all powerful acids! Will enourage loss of calcium from bone and Higher Parathyroid hormone. Your pain is due to acids. I thought that fish oil would get rid of my pain, it did, but the acid effects continued. Masai even use bitter/astringent herbs in milk/blood. Coriander is <1g carb per 100g & good alkali
I learnt that acids = cheese/eggs/fish/dairy/animal fats/nuts/seeds. Uric acid or calcium crystals tends to increase on meat and acid foods if not properly balanced via the minerals that buffer these. If Ca/K/Mg fall, bone has to give up calcium. Joints problems/thinning bones maybe encouraged.. High Ca loss in urine has been recorded on such a diet. Apple cider viniger (malic acid) reduces uric acid crystals. Veg/bitter herbs help counteract the acidity, bone broths, eating organ/stomach, yuk!
@Catherine8raw That is roughly my analogy to why I started taking the MSM supplement. I saw the joint aches with the increased mileage and wanted to address the symptom. If the experiment prove inconclusive, I’ll accept the condition as normal or modify the experiment.
I think you are on the right track in getting an analysis done with your symptoms, and I hope you discover what will work for you.
@Catherine8raw Sorry misread the line and the less than or greater than sign. I eventually go back to symptoms or given a particular eating pattern over a period of time symptoms should arise to indicate a deficiency or problems. In the absence of negative reactions or conversely in presence of positive indications (athletic or outward indicators), one has validation with reasonable assurance, especially if backed with diagnostic exams.
If I was deficient in something, indicators would trend.
@bowulf Yes, I meant all the huge amounts of lean meat I was eating was giving me huge amounts of phosphorus… this acts as phosphorus acid in the body, which is buffered by Ca and Mg ions in body. When Ca goes low, calcium is pulled from bone. Ca from bone (alkali/base) links up with the Phosphoric acid in the meat/eggs/fish/nuts/cheese/yoghurt in those deficient in calcium.
Anyway, thanks for your info, you have done well to keep the weight off and run the marathons!
@Catherine8raw I never had a problem with phosphorous. Cheese (I know it doesn’t work for you) has abundance of it. 2oz is nearly half your daily intake. Almost any meat or eggs are another ready source of it. A 3-egg omelet with meat sans cheese would be nearly enough for RDA for you.
I have ordered a hair mineral analysis and vitamin D test. My doctor has refered to to a rheumatologist. I was getting numb hands every time I ate protein and my jaw aches, as did legs, I got pain near elbow (Know crystals are developing). I can logically presume I ate to much phosphorus via protein, did this for calories, because I ate less fat… I STAY ON INDUCTION FOR 9 MONTHS! Magnesium deficiency? I ate no fruit (use to cause asthma). My gums stopped bleeding on this diet?any advice?
I had a low blood pressure, like yours. I thought it was the low electrolytes, maybe sodium. Dr. confirmed potassium OK. I’d bend to pick somethin up & got very quite dizzy on standing, never got this before diet. I got fatigued by 10pm when I origionally got tired untill 12-1am. Skin peeled off easily (vit C?) Improvements = mood Gr8 & weight (13 stone) appetite dropped, myself, family/Dr were amazed. 1 day I heard these crystals in knee, burning pain in legs = stopped exercising, whats wrong?
Thanks!!! I learnt with Nutritional data . com website that 280g (approx 10oz) broccoli 820mg potassium, pork chop 100g (3.5oz) 375mg Chicken breast (100g) 218g and when I worked out my nutrients, even with shrimps, eggs, I had lower potassium until I added spinach. I never ate dairy/nus/seeds it “set me off!”. I had severe cramps every night, I saw meat was loaded with phosphorus, & I was way well > 700mg RDA, may of been taking my Ca from bone. What have I done wrong?
@Catherine8raw I don’t track Potassium routinely, but with the Lite-Salt substitution, I tracked my intake for the hypokalemia video. Pork, beef, and nuts have large amount of potassium in them, and I was routinely over 2500 per day. With my SF e-lyte drinks after runs, I would be way over 3500mg per day.
Here’s a sampling of K-rich:
* 4 oz beef 495 mg
* 1 cup chicken breast 358 mg
* 1 4 oz pork chop 514 mg
* 1 cup broccoli 458 mg
With my limited cheese intake, calcium RDA is no problem.
@Catherine8raw Most of my meat is chicken (often with skin), pork, and beef, so it is typically from 80-93% lean-fat ratio. You are correct about fish simply because I don’t find them to be tasty not because of some deficiency in them.
I take a multi-vitamin each day and take an additional MSM tablet. (I am deluded right now it helps recovery from marathon runs)
My blood pressure or lack thereof (105/60) is likely more affected by my exercise, but I agree most people do see a reduction.
@bowulf Thanks very much for this info, its important. Is the meat very fatty? I presume you never have shellfish or fish and are not taking any supplements like fish oil? I was taking 8g (lots) fish oil which may of had a duiretic effect, but the Atkins diet has a duiretic effect I got postural hypotension, I took no supplements of potassium, magnesium or calcium do you? As for the salt do you know how much potassium your having everyday… The RDA 3500mg, are you anywhere near this? TY!
@Catherine8raw Just to ball park estimates:
3-6 cups of veggies daily
12-20 oz of meat daily
Average 1/4 – 1/2 cup of fruit (primarily berries) daily – not an every day item
1-2 oz of nuts daily
2-4 oz of cheese (cheddar, Swiss, Parm, cream)
2-4 TBS of oils (salad dressing, butter, etc.)
~100-175g of protein daily.
I made a video on potassium. I don’t take tablets although I have switched to salt-lite (50% NaCl – 50% KCl) to boost potassium.
As for other dairy, I do have cream, but not daily.
@Catherine8raw My typical day varies quite a bit with my moods or tastes, but a common day would be 1-2oz almonds in the morning, a large salad for lunch about 50-40-10 vegetables-meat-cheese ratio (nothing exact, just rough guess by volume), and supper usually features some meat entree with either a salad or vegetable side (broccoli, cabbage, cauilflower). Last night, I went out to a Mongolian grill, and had stir-fries or tortilla-less fajitas depending on perspective.(~3-4 oz of cheese daily)
What fats are you eating? What would a typical day be for you? Do you eats lots of fatty dairy everyday? Its a shame because this diet really worked for me, but the crystals are now going in my elbows and all over the place. I am amazed you say pH7, do you take potassium? How much protein do you eat? How many veggies, fruits, nuts/seeds do you consume. Best wishes
Cath