Some studies have suggested that the Atkins diet may be helpful, but Dr. Susan Jebb, of the Medical Research Council's Human Nutrition Research Centre in Cambridge, argues the opposite. According to her, those studies were too limited to provide much meaningful data.

The Daily Record reports:

Dr Jebb said such a dramatic change in eating habits was a leap in the dark. For most people, protein accounts for a mere 15 per cent of their calorie intake. But much higher levels are eaten on the Atkins diet. Dr Jebb said: "We simply do not know the long-term health implications. "I certainly think we should be adopting a precautionary principle in terms of public health."

Is the Atkins Diet really any better grounded than things like astrology or palm reading?

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