How
was the Atkins Diet started? One
of the most popular low-carb diet plans available, the Atkins Diet was created
by Dr. Robert C. Atkins. He first started following a controlled carb diet in
1963 after reading about a similar diet in the Journal of the American Medical
Association. Dr. Atkins then built upon that approach and published his own article
on low-carb dieting in Vogue magazine in 1970. In 1972, he published his first
book, "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution," which caused controversy within the medical
community and went on to become one of the 50 best selling books of all time.
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How
does the Atkins Diet work? The
Atkin’s Diet is a four stage diet program that attempts to turn your metabolism
into a fat burning system-- where fats (not carbs) are used as the primary source
of energy. During the first stage of the Atkins Diet (the "introduction"
period), dieters are not allowed to eat more than 20 grams of carbohydrates per
day. This diet consists of almost unlimited
amounts meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, cheeses, oils, butter, margarine, bacon,
and sausage. The 20 grams of carbs that are allowed are generally derived from
trace amounts of carbs in sauces, dressings, cheeses and small amounts of lettuce
greens or vegetables. Dieters are not allowed to have any milk, fruits, grains,
cereals, breads or any high glycemic vegetables such as potatoes, peas, corn and
carrots. In the second stage, dieters can
begin adding about 5 more grams of carbohydrates to their diet weekly. A diet
consisting of no more than 40 to 90 grams of carbohydrates is what dieters must
stick with long term, in the third and fourth stages of Atkins. [
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What
are the Pro's of the Atkins Diet plan?
Research in the New England Journal
of Medicine, found that people on the high-protein, high-fat, low-carbohydrate
Atkins Diet lost twice as much weight over a six month period as those on standard
low-fat diets recommended by most major health organizations. Many
people have found success using the Atkins Diet because there are no limits on
the amount of food you can eat (within the permitted food groups). Because of
this, you may find it easier to follow than other programs because hunger never
plays a role. Following Atkins allows you to eat delicious food and feel satisfied,
without feeling guilty. This plan has also been reported to increase HDL’s (good
cholesterol), while reducing LDL’s (bad cholesterol). [
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What
are the Con's of the Atkins Diet plan? Although
the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is cited as providing
evidence that the Atkins Diet works, it was concluded that even though more weight
loss occurred after the first 6 months, after one year, the difference was insignificant
in comparison to standard low-fat diets. The
same study found that both types of diets, Atkins and low fat, had a high drop
out rate. So it seems the fact that participants can eat as much as they want
on the Atkins Diet, has little affect in keeping people motivated to stay on the
program. Many critics would also say the Atkins
Diet is unhealthy. Many believe high protein intake may lead to increased risk
of osteoporosis, gall bladder disease, and kidney stones. Some experts believe
that the high amounts of animal fat eaten on the Atkins Diet can have a bad effect
on cholesterol levels and can lead to cardiac disease. And because participants
may get lower amounts of dietary fiber on the Atkins Diet, constipation and chronic
bowel disease may also occur. [
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