Update: Dr. Robert Atkins died today, April 17, 2003. R.I.P.

Very Off-topic for us:

We received the following report on the condition of Dr. Robert Atkins, founder of the very popular Atkins Diet. We know his diet is controversial, but no one can doubt that Dr. Atkins dedicated his career and much of his life to it. This senseless accident saddens us and reminds us of how fragile life can be.

It is with deep sadness that we must advise you that as of today Dr. Atkins remains gravely ill, in a coma and on life support. As most of you know, on his way to work Tuesday morning following the late-season snowstorm, Dr. Atkins fell on the slippery sidewalk in front of The Atkins Center. He suffered a major blow to his head and has not recovered from surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. His physician reports that Dr. Atkins' chances of a meaningful recovery are slim. Nonetheless, we are hoping for a miracle and every measure possible is being considered to save his life.

Here is his final column on the evils of sugar, which he put the finishing touches on the night before his accident. As a substitute, Dr. Atkins recommends drinking tea. Tea is healthy for your heart.

Tea and Your Heart The impressive cardiovascular benefits of tea have been shown by a number of recent scientific studies. The well-known Zutphen Elderly Study, for instance, which followed a large group of older men in the Netherlands from 1985 through 1995 showed that the men who drank the most tea also had the fewest incidents of heart disease and stroke. Similar results have been reported from a number of other studies. In a 1999 study of men and women in the Boston area, for instance, the participants who drank at least one cup of tea a day had a 44-percent lower risk of a heart attack than those who drank no tea.

We're going to have a cup now and hope for a miracle for Dr. Atkins.