Atkins Diet Review
The Atkins diet is one of the most popular low carbohydrate diets on the market today. Its popularity has sparked a lot of critisism mostly because he advocates the exact opposite of the low-fat diet world. He called for a diet high in saturated fat and low in carbohydrates, which was immediately denounced by the medical and nutritional establishment. The critisisum has been undermined by the fact that the diet works better than the low-fat high-carbohydrate diet of the American Heart Association
Atkins Diet Low-Carb Benefits
Studies have shown that low-carbohydrate eating has many benefits. There have been scientific results that low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins do create significant weight loss without having to restrict calories. People who use the Atkins diet have also reported this. There are studies that show that low-carb eating improves triclycerides, reduces blood glucose for diabetics and pre-diabetics and increases good cholesterol (HDL). Low-carbohydrate dieting has been scientifically proven to improve insulin sensitivity, decrease blood pressure and lower blood insulin levels. When compared with low-fat diets, low-carb dieters lose less muscle mass.
Although not scientifically proven, there are many common benefits reported by Atkins dieters and other low-carb dieters. These include an increase in energy, a reduced craving for sweets, better concentration, improved mood and an lessening of depression type symptoms.
However, there are also some benefits that are specific to the Atkins diet. If you have been a low fat dieter in previous years, you’ll enjoy eating all of those “forbidden foods” that you once had to go without. Steak, butter and cream are a regular part of Atkins dieters’ meals. There is a certain pleasure that goes along with eating foods that were once off limits. Atkins dieters are encouraged to eat their full of rich meats, cheeses and fats and oils.
Atkins Diet Phases For Success
Atkins is broken down into four phases, induction or the first phase is the most carb restritive allowing only 20 grams of carbohydrates a day with most people going from 250 or more that is quite a shock to some, but it is for a good purpose. Usually after three days during induction the body goes into lipolysis or the term that Atkins uses ketosis in the body burns fat instead of carbohydrates for fuel. Next is Ongoing Weight Loss Phase or OWL where you start to add back 5 grams more of carbohydrates a week until you slow down your weight loss to 1or 2 pounds a week. Next is Pre-Maintenance Phase where you add more carbohydrates and learn about the types of food you can eat without triggering bad eating habits all over again and set you up for Lifetime Maintenance Phase which the name says it all.
The popularity of Atkins is a double-edged sword for dieters. There is a lot of information available on the diet, which makes it easy to find resources and support. There have been many, many Atkins books written and there are endless amounts of websites that offer tips and group support. However, everyone has heard of Atkins and probably has anopinion on it. There are some big misconceptions out there about the nature of the diet, and you’ll no doubt have to defend your new way of eating from time to time.
Atkins Diet Downsides
There are some other minimal downsides to using the Atkins program. You do need to count carbohydrates in everything you eat to make sure that you are staying within your personal carbohydrate range. There is also the issue of Induction, the most hotly debate aspect of the plan. Induction can be difficult to get through if you’ve had a diet that centers on carbs and sugar. Also, many people try Induction and mistakenly believe that this is the way that the whole diet is going to be. They end up quitting before they get into the actual Atkins plan.
Sometimes, although it is not common, people will experience a carb crash on the 3rd to 5th day of the diet. This reaction is a result of their body finally experiencing ketosis, or running on fat instead of carbohydrates. The effects are transient, but many people have sworn off low-carb diets entirely because of this happenstance.
The main thing that I have a problem with is the high saturated fat in the Atkins diet, but with some cut s in the fat intake, and the other minor drawbacks considered, Atkins is one of the most popular low-carb diets for a reason. It works. Thousands of people, including myself, have had success with the Atkins approach to the low-carb way of living.
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