Howard: From the article:
Table 1. Common Problems Reported by Atkins Diet Alert Registrants

44% reported constipation
42% reported loss of energy
40% reported bad breath
31% reported difficulty concentrating
22% reported kidney problems: kidney stones (11%), severe kidney infections (2%), or reduced kidney function (9%)
20% reported heart-related problems, including heart attack (1%), other heart problems (12%), or high cholesterol (7%)
11% reported gallbladder problems or removal
5% reported gout
5% reported diabetes
5% reported osteoporosis
4% reported colorectal (1%) or other cancers (3%)


Table 2. Other Problems Reported by Three or More Individuals:

11 reported irritable bowel syndrome, severe abdominal pain, or cramps (6%)
9 reported pain, cramps, tingling, or numbness in the limbs (5%)
9 reported feeling shaky and weak (5%)
9 reported vertigo, dizziness, or lightheadedness (5%)
7 reported severe diarrhea (4%)
7 reported severe or repeated headaches (4%)
5 reported severe mood swings, apathy, or depression (3%)
5 reported general malaise (3%)
4 reported nausea (2%)
4 reported severe menstrual problems (2%)
3 reported heart palpitations (2%)

Now....first thing to remember is that these results are from people who have registered on their site, not based on a global survey of LC dieters. The people who register on this site are most likely people who have had problems and went off LC.

The "side effects" above are often touted as being "life threatening complications"....well, let's see.

44% reported constipation (not enough fiber, of course you're going to be constipated.
42% reported loss of energy (wonder if they made it past induction)
40% reported bad breath (ketosis is not that bad....I've asked my kids and friends. My mouthmay taste nasty, but my breath isn't bad as bad as normal "morning breath")
31% reported difficulty concentrating (again, get past induction)
11% reported gallbladder problems or removal (most likely due to YEARS of LF)
5% reported gout ( a problem with a very small percentage of the population, regardless of diet)
5% reported diabetes (this one makes me wonder. There is no way DM can be triggered by LC....it just isn't possible)
5% reported osteoporosis (two words: calcium supplements. MOST people need them, not just LCers)
None of these are considered in any way life threatening.

More serious?
22% reported kidney problems: kidney stones (11%), severe kidney infections (2%), or reduced kidney function (9%)
kidney stones are directly related to calcium intake in people who are susceptable, a small percentage of the population. Kidney function can be compromised further in unhealthy kidneys, but studies have shown NO risk to healthy kidneys!!!!! An infection is caused by a bacteria. With few exceptions, that infection comes from the external perineal area, introduced into the bladder. If any bladder infection is left untreated, it can and often will lead to actualy kidney infection. That's because the bacteria migrates up the urinary tract to the kidneys. Also most "kidney infections" are actually bladder infections, there's a BIg difference.

20% reported heart-related problems, including heart attack (1%), other heart problems (12%), or high cholesterol (7%)
If only 1% end up having heart attacks, that's way lower than LF followers. BUT...unless these people had been following LC for many years, it's more likely the previoous diet was the caseu,, not LC.
"Other heart problems".....hmmmm without knowing what they are, it's hard to comment. BUT, low potassium, calcium, etc can cause heart irregularities....which if severe and untreated can lead to serious or even fatal heart rhythm irregularities. This is why most LC plans advocate a daily MVI and often added potassium and calcium.
As for high cholesterol, many are no longer convinced that is a "problem".

Look around ont eh web-site and do some searches. You'll find more information on cholesterol, saturated fat, "good" vs "bad" fats. As for cholesterol, that recomendation was based on bad research....and has now taken on a life of it's own.

Consider this: The body stores what it needs where it can get it, right? Like fat....you store that on your body, around your torso or even legs and arms, but rarely to any degree around your head. Why? because if your body needs extra fuel, the fat is right there where it can be broken down and used.

Now, consider this:
3.5 ounces extra lean ground beef, 82 milligrams
3.5 ounce lean pork chop, 94 milligrams
3.5 ounces of chicken breast meat, no skin, 73 milligrams
3.5 ounces turkey, light meat only, 69 milligrams
3 ounces perch, 36 milligrams
6 medium oysters, 46 milligrams
12 large shrimp, 130 milligrams
1 large egg, 213 milligrams
3.5 ounces of liver, 400 milligrams
3.5 ounces of brains, 2,000 milligrams

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/heart/hhb7-1.html

Now....why would an animal's body store cholesterol in the brian if it wasn't needed there? Cholesterol is used by the body to create and repair blood vessels. It is required for blood vessel health. Maybe the body stores it here in case it's needed?

Anything PCRM says is highly suspect. They are vegetarian proponents, closely alligned with PETA. They take the data they want from studies, not the whole study. They are anti LC, anti meat fanatics. The AMA has also censured PCRN several times for their tactics. (do a sarch on the forum for PCRM, that will keep you busy for a while!)

If you want real information, go to a site like webmd and check out the references for your self. Or just do a search on cholesterol and then read the studies quoted. You'll find that either the study doens't actually say what the reports say they do.....or the study is obviously flawed.

As Dr Ravnskov says in his book "The Cholesterol Myths": "For a scientific hypothesis is sound, it must agree with all observations. A hypothesis is not like a sports event, where the team with the greatest number of points wins the game. Even one observation that does not support a hypothesis is enough to disprove it" (page 12 in the introduction)

The medical community freely admits there are people with CAD that do not have high cholesterol. They also admit that only 6% of your total cholesterol is due to your diet, and that your body will create cholesterol if it's not taken in in large enough quantities!

No one is required to eat meats on either Atkins or any other LC diet. You are also not required to eat saturated fats in any form if you don't want. LC is more about limiting all carbs and eliminating the "bad"carbs, like refined sugar, flour, etc. We have members on here that are vegetarians.