Atkins Diet Plan – Simple to Follow but not Long Term

The Atkins diet is the most well known of the low-carbohydrate diets. It was created in the 70s by Dr Atkins. Those who want to follow the diet have to cut out most of their carbohydrate intake, but they can eat as much fat and proteins as they want while still losing weight.

When you start following the Atkins diet menu plan, almost all carbohydrates are excluded from the diet, which leads to a ketosis – a state where the body is forced into thinking it is starving. Due to the low amount of carbohydrates the body burns glycogen instead of its preferred source of energy glucose. The body stores 3 times as water as glycogen, and its burning results in a large initial loss of water and weight as a consequence. This large initial weight loss is a main reason for the popularity of the diet.

However, many doctors think that ketosis is bad, as it puts a strain on your kidneys, and prolonged ketosis results in muscle tissue being broken down. The initial weight loss returns quickly once the diet is stopped.

After following the Atkins diet menu for a couple of weeks, you slowly reintroduce carbohydrates into your diet plan until you stop losing weight. This gives you maximum carbohydrate limit, and you have to stay under it in order to keep your weight loss.

Pros and Cons of the Atkins Diet

The pluses are as follows: first, the diet actually works. Second, it causes a large initial weight loss. Third, you can eat as much fat and protein as you want.

And here are the reasons against:

• The initial weight loss returns very quickly
• Ketosis strains the liver
• It has a high drop out rate for the induction fase
• Carbohydrates are very low, while saturated fat is high
• High cholesterol
• It is associated with heart disease
• Cancer fighting substances found in fruit and vegetables are low

So, the Atkins diet is not a long term viable diet, since it does not promote healthy nutrition and cuts out a proportion of foods, and causes unhealthy side effects. However, it works and is pretty simple to follow, which adds to its popularity, and many Atkins diet recipes can be found online.

If you decide to choose this diet, remember to drink no less than 8 glasses of water each day.

Home Weight loss information Blood type diet Healthy diet Balanced diet Weight loss surgery Fad diets Weight loss programs South beach diet Atkins diet La weight loss Mediterranean diet Dash diet Diet products Diet coke Diet pepsi Hollywood diet