Dr. Atkins Death Debate Resurrected
Dr. Joel Fuhrman digging up the grave of the late Dr. Atkins...AGAIN!
I've been reading a couple of books by a health and nutrition author named Dr. Joel Fuhrman recently that I will be writing a review of at my blog in the next couple of weeks.
But after reading what Dr. Fuhrman wrote in this recent post on his DiseaseProof blog last week regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of the creator of the Atkins diet, Dr. Robert C. Atkins, I felt strongly compelled to respond.
In his post entitled "Examining Dr. Atkins' Death," Dr. Fuhrman said the whitewashing by certain people of how and why Dr. Atkins died over two years ago is "distorting the facts" about what really happened.
"Before Dr. Atkins was hospitalized near the end of his life, he weighed about 200 pounds. Atkins’ medical record showed he had atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, had suffered from a previous heart attack, and had high blood pressure. However, many would have you believe he was merely a healthy guy who died after slipping on a patch of ice."
Can you still believe this is such a heated subject of controversy in the year 2006 -- 27 months after it happened?
NEWSFLASH, Dr. Fuhrman: Dr. Atkins has passed on to meet his Creator and cannot stand up against people like you who continue to run his name and reputation through the dirt just because you don't agree with his dietary principles. Since he is no longer around to defend his good name, I will be MORE THAN HAPPY to stand up for him!
How insulting is it for the condition of his health and tragic death of Dr. Atkins being discussed in such a derogatory manner when he's been dead now for over two years?! CAN'T YOU JUST LET THE MAN REST IN PEACE ALREADY!!!
Okay, now that I've got that off my chest, let's address this issue of Dr. Atkins and his health at the time of his death. The fact that the personal medical records of Dr. Atkins were illegally distributed to the media within hours of his death who gladly released them to the public almost immediately without the permission of his grieving wife was utterly despicable!
"I am sure that any one of you would be offended and perhaps even horrified to have complete strangers intrude into your personal family matters, especially with regard to something as intimate as your medical records or those of your loved one," Mrs. Veronica Atkins said in a statement just days after her husband died after suffering complications from a slip and fall accident in New York City.
Mrs. Atkins explains in that statement about her late husband's weakened heart that it was due to an infection, not his diet. Several medical professionals and cardiologists confirmed that the diet promoted and engaged in by Dr. Atkins was NOT the source of his condition. PERIOD! End of story! Why must this question keep coming up when it's already been settled?
"I look forward to the day when Dr. Atkins' soul can rest in peace and I can grieve uninterrupted," Mrs. Atkins wrote at the end of her statement on February 9, 2004.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Atkins we've got imbecils like Dr. Fuhrman who refuse to let it go because he's so deeply in bed with the radical anti-Atkins diet group Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine (PCRM), an offspring of the extreme animal rights/vegan movement group People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
You might recall this is the same group that is supporting opportunist Jody Gorran's frivilous lawsuit against Atkins Nutritionals. Are you seeing the connection here? Dr. Fuhrman supports the work of PCRM who backs Gorran who is opposed to Atkins -- ERGO, Dr. Fuhrman must be against Dr. Atkins and everything he stood for as well. Ding ding ding, I think we have a winner here!
Want more evidence? Just take a look at who PCRM has listed as a "member physician" in their organization. GASP! What a surprise?! NOT! Hmm, do ya think Dr. Fuhrman's got some friends in PCRM he's trying to impress with his negative comments about Dr. Atkins? Me thinks he does!
In my review of his books so far, Dr. Fuhrman describes the Atkins diet, The Zone diet by Dr. Barry Sears and The Protein Power diet by Drs. Michael and Mary Eades as "the most dangerous" ones for people to follow. Oh yeah, this vegetarian nut is gonna be unbiased in his opinions about Dr. Atkins, isn't he?! Sheeeeeez! And he actually expects us to take him seriously? Ha!
Now that you know where Dr. Fuhrman is coming from, keep that in mind with the rest of his comments about Dr. Atkins and the Atkins diet.
Claiming he had a patient who was a friend of Dr. Atkins and suffered from "severe coronary artery disease which he developed on the Atkins diet," Dr. Fuhrman said he cured this patient by taking him off of low-carb and putting him on a plant-based diet.
Sharing suspicious third-party information from this patient who just conveniently happened to have the same cardiologist as Dr. Atkins, Dr. Fuhrman said his patient told him that his cardiologist revealed that Dr. Atkins actually had a heart attack which caused his fall on the ice. He said, she said, that he said...say what?!
Have you ever heard of the phrase "grasping at straws?" Do ya think Dr. Fuhrman and his "patient" are reaching hard for something bad to say about Dr. Atkins?! Give me a break, Dr. Fuhrman! Is that REALLY the best you can come up with?!
Claiming that Mrs. Atkins "quickly switched cardiologists to find one who would aid in the cover-up," Dr. Fuhrman continued his fantasyland rant about how awful it is for people to be eating a meat-based diet because look what it did to the guy who came up with that kind of a diet.
"The only point to be made here is these guys advocating a high meat diet are unfortunately hurting themselves too, not just their followers, but it is a shame that people have to suffer and even die needlessly from the advice of these high-meat advocates."
If the premise of Dr. Fuhrman's comments wasn't so laughable it would be quickly dismissed without comment. But for him to make the giant leap that the death of Dr. Atkins proves his diet is no longer viable for people to follow for weight loss and health is like saying the passing of Johnny Cash means country music has run its course and people should only listen to rock & roll now.
Preposterous! Idiotic! Nonsensical!
Hey Dr. Fuhrman, I've got some news for you. There are lots of real life examples living out here in the real world who are more than willing to tell you how much our lives have been changed by that same Dr. Atkins you so willfully malign with your ignorant statements against him and his diet.
I've got news for you, buster! If it wasn't for the great work conducted by Dr. Robert C. Atkins on the low-carb lifestyle, then I would have NEVER been able to lose nearly 200 pounds like I did two years ago and then keep it off by continuing to apply the principles that this intelligent man laid out in his books.
Where would I be today without the Atkins diet? High blood pressure, high cholesterol, breathing problems, diabetes, weighing over 500 pounds, no sex life, no social life, sitting in front of a television moping about my health, feeling depressed that I haven't been able to find a way to lose weight, suicidal, or even six feet under in a premature death due to my morbid obesity. ALL OF THAT WAS AVOIDED BECAUSE I WENT ON THE ATKINS DIET, DR. FUHRMAN!!!
While it is obvious to everyone that you personally dislike the healthy nutritional approach advocated by Dr. Atkins, it is simply reprehensible for people like you to resort to such vile and vicious personal attacks against a man who will forever be remembered and revered as a maverick revolutionary in the field of diet and nutrition. As long as I have breath to breathe and continue to enjoy the outstanding health that I now have thanks to the Atkins diet, I will say it loud and say it proud that the Atkins way of life is a healthy alternative to the failed low-fat diet approach we have been LIED TO about for decades.
Livin' la vida low-carb worked for me and I'll never be the same again because of it. Neglecting to point out the countless positive success stories of the Atkins Nutritional Approach like mine that exist in the world today, Dr. Fuhrman, is short-sighted and narrow-minded. Perhaps you should do just a little more research on the subject the next time you decide to go off on a tangent on something you obviously know little to nothing about.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman does not have a direct e-mail address, but you can get an e-mail to him at customerservice@drfuhrman.com. Or, you can contact him at this contact page from his web site with his address and telephone number if you wish to share with him your feedback about his comments against Dr. Atkins and the Atkins diet.
I think Dr. Fuhrman will be in for a rude awakening about the number of people like me who have been changed for the better because of one Dr. Robert C. Atkins. God rest his soul and may he FINALLY rest in peace!
posted by Jimmy Moore at
4/03/2006 11:18:00 PM
11 Comments:
If you look at Dr. Fuhrman's blog article it links to the Smoking Gun Website. But that Website actually presents the truth and nothing biased.
This guys arguement is a bit week, he uses the medical report as his only evidence (which says cause of death was from blunt force trauma) and provides no documented evidence of the claims he makes.
Where is the sworn statement from the patient and Dr Atkins cardiologist ?
Wait......he can't them.....because...... he's a liar ??
It will never end. Dr. Atkins had to deal with it in life, and now all of us who are his legacy have to deal with it after his death.
But...if he could put up with it, then I can.
Did you see A&E Biography on Dr. Atkins? I taped it. The PCRM is so totally out there that A&E didn't ever interview them for it, even though they certainly tried to give both sides of the debate.
I highly recommend it if you ever see it. They tend to be quite fair in the protrayals of all the people they profile.
Ok, that was a bit off topic, lol.
Anyway, people like this can't stop me because now I know the truth. It's kind of like if you handle money all day - when someone tried to pass you a counterfiet you *know* it a counterfiet (this happened to me once). So when someone tries to lie to me about Atkins I *know* they are lying because I have the facts.
Eat my shorts, Dr. Fuhrman! They are plant based - that should be on your diet.
The information from Wikipedia is incorrect - they are often very incorrect about many things, actually. The fact is that dr. Atkins never suffered from a cardiac arrest. He suffered from a myocardial infection, a condition he acquired as a child. This sometimes causes the effects of a CVE, but it is most certainly not the same. The full information, in all details, can be obtained on his website. The full information from the cardiologist who treated him is also freely available.
The rest of the Wikipedia information is fairly accurate as far as mentioning actual weight upon admittance is concerned, and the cause of the weight gain upon his untimely death. This indeed was the result of fluid retention related to his organs failing.
The release of his medical information, incidentally, was NOT such a "mistake": it is my contention that this was done on purpose - instigated by and to be used by extremist groups as a propaganda tool; as we have seen many times before since. It merely shows that these people stop at literally nothing to force their distorted medical and dietary delusions on the unsuspecting populace. They are dispicable terrorists, nothing more. They are monitored by the FBI, their directors have been arrested by the FBI and sentenced, and they are on the record for bombing people's cars and beating up researchers, for Pete's sakes!
We know the truth: and I for one will fight for it until my last breath. This man deserves a Nobel Prize and not the scorn, outright lies and redicule from the scum of the Earth. As far as I am concerned, the latter includes the "free media".
Just remember.
If you follow the Atkins diet and IF you survive your first heart attack that Dr. F will still be around and maybe you can still save your precious health.
By the way Dr. Fuhrman is not a strict vegan, he has vegetarian and non-vegetarian plans and uses meat as a condiment vs the whole meal.
Just remember Dr. Fuhrman's name when you have health problems.
That's a whole lotta assumin' about the Atkins diet you're making there, Elijah Lynn.
Admit it: Dr. Fuhrman is an extremist who refuses to acknowledge his direct connections with PCRM, a radical anti-meat, anti-Atkins group determined to wipe anything positive about the Atkins diet off the face of the Earth.
THAT is why you are so angry.
Susan,
I see no mention of veggies in anything you write about low-carb. Veggies are the mainstay of all true low-carb diet, and the centerpiece in the updated version on Dr. Atkins book. I assume you were doing the 1972 version which does not have the benefit of 30 more years of medical practice that the updated version has.
I hear it over and over again on the official Atkins bulletin board - eat your veggies: 10-15g net carb in Induction, and more as you get to later phases. I suspect you weren't eating enough veggies or fat and too much protein.
Susan,
THANKS for your comments. But my concern is that the wild viewpoints espoused by people like Dr. Fuhrman do more HARM than good when we are talking about helping people with weight and health problems.
If you oppose the Atkins diet, then that's one thing. But to distort what it is with an unprovoked attack personally on the man behind the diet (which is exactly what Dr. Fuhrman did!), that is reprehensible!
I wish you well on your diet of choice, but be aware that the leader of your way of eating is not PROMOTING his belief, but rather tearing down his strongest opponent...who's not even here to defend himself anymore.
Low-carb's the way for me and nobody is gonna tell me otherwise.
This link is for people who want both sides of the story.
The Atkins Cancer Revolution
I stand behind Dr. Fuhrman as a man who has reversed cancer, has not had 1 single person die of a heart attack in 14 years of medical practice, reverses diabetes in his sleep, puts auto-immune disease to sleep, and countless other miraculous health stories.
Just remember his name when you have kidney problems, heart problems and/or cancer.
And for the record, yes he does want to wipe out Atkins, it is dangerous and deadly.
I understand this will make you angrier but just take 10 deep breaths and it will calm you down. Try it! Reel deep breaths not quick either, long and slow, in and out. I like to do this at least ten times a day, it makes me feel great!
There is no proof or evidence that says the Atkins diet causes cancer. Talk about being intellectually dishonest.
Again, it's one thing to promote and support your nutritional approach by sharing why it has worked for you.
But this seemingly continual mischaracterization of the miraculous work that Dr. Atkins did in the field of diet and health is completely uncalled for.
What about all of the people who have gotten sick and died from calorie-restriction and the lack of nutrients in a vegetarian/vegan diet? Where is the outcry about those people?
The double standard is blatantly clear to anyone with eyes and ears.
As for the breathing lessons, I don't need 'em because I'm off my medication for breathing thanks to the nearly 200-pound weight loss, which, oh, by the way, in case you didn't notice was the result of the ATKINS DIET! LOL!
In the immortal words of Jim Carrey, "Lay-hoo-zuh-her!"
Oh my gosh, look at what I got today in my e-mail:
Hello,
I help run a blog for Joel Fuhrman M.D. an expert on using nutrition to prevent and reverse disease; he has been on Good Morning America, CNN, etc. Recently Dr. Fuhrman published a post discussing the increased risk of cancer associated with the Atkins Diet, click here or use the hyperlink below. Dr. Fuhrman contends that hundreds of scientific studies have documented the link between animal products and various cancers. It is irresponsible for the Atkins Corporation to convince followers that they know better than leading nutritional research scientists who proclaim that meat consumption is an important factor in the etiology of human cancer.
http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/diet-myths-383-increased-risk-of-cancer-associated-with-the-atkins-diet.html
I was curious to know if you would consider using this information on your site?
Thanks.
Gerry Pugliese
---
Sorry it killed the hyperlinks.
Here is my reply to him:
Hello,
My blog is pro-Atkins. If you want to bash it you can start your own blog. I have better things to do then spend my time picking apart somebody's Internet site.
I'll take the words of most all medical doctors that meat is fine over one vegan doctor anyday. I feel great and have stable blood sugar for the first time ever.
If veganism works for you - fine, go for it! But don't tell me how to eat. I'm eating like God intended for us to eat.
Come to think of it, make that three medical doctors who say meat is good - count in Dr. Eades of "Protein Power" and Dr. Agaston of the South Beach Diet as well.
I'd ask you to e-mail Jimmy at Livin' La Vida Low-Carb, but I see he already critiqued the article. What can I say, if Dr. Furhman lies about Dr. Atkins' death (and telling only half the story IS lying), why should I trust *anything* he says?
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006/04/dr-atkins-death-debate-resurrected.html
It's already been fully debunked there, and Jimmy includes a link to Dr. Furhman's article, as well as excerpts. If I didn't have a billion other things to blog about at the moment (the most hectic week of the year started a week early this year and
I'm smack in the middle of it now), I might link to his article. You'd still get the exposure because he links to your article, but somehow I don't think you'd like that...
Stumbling to Bethlehem,
Victoria
I totally agree with comments of Jimmy Moore! More power dude! You ROCK!!!
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