| Atkins
Diet - Good or Bad? The 6 Steps Analysis
by Mickael Kerenterff
The Atkins diet, without a
doubt, has been the most controversial diet of
all time. Seldom does a week go by that the news
media does not mention the Atkins diet.
The Atkins diet, first introduced
in 1972 by cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins, is
considered the most extreme of the low carb diets.
Hundreds of research studies by universities and
research teams throughout North America, Europe,
and Asia have been conducted on the Atkins diet.
The Atkins diet, as with any
diet program, has its good and bad points - but,
whatever side you are on, one thing is for sure.
Dr. Atkins, and the Atkins diet, has done for
the diet and nutrition industry what Mohammad
Ali did for the boxing industry. Dr. Atkins created
new awareness and introduced new concepts that
will forever affect how we look at diets for weight
loss as well as diets for health. Although the
low carb diet was first written about in the late
1800's, low carb dieting truly came to life with
the birth of the Atkins diet.
Let's take a look at three
good and bad points of the Atkins diet.
Atkins diet - the good stuff.
1.
THE ATKINS DIET BURNS FAT FASTER THAN ANY OTHER
DIET. The human body is designed
to use two different fuels to sustain life - glucose
from carbs or ketones from fat. Glucose is the
primary fuel, fat the backup. Every weight loss
diet is based on the concept of burning fat. Conventional
diets generally are designed to burn fat by starvation
- by eating fewer calories than you use every
day. This causes the body to dip into its reserve
energy source - the fat surrounding your abdomen
and your thighs first.
The Atkins diet approaches
fat burning a different way. It limits the glucose
(carb) intake so the body adjusts itself to using
ketones (fat) as its primary fuel. Normally within
three to four days of starting, your body is literally
a fat burning machine on the Atkins diet.
2.
THE ATKINS DIET DOESN'T LEAVE YOU HUNGRY.
Unlike most conventional diets, the Atkins diet
is not based so much on calorie intake. Dr. Atkins
does, however, warn that you should not stuff
yourself but only eat until satisfied. Also, since
you are replacing carbs with protein, and the
main protein source is meat, a high percentage
of each meal will consist of meat and fat. Meat
and fat are more fulfilling and much slower to
digest. Not only do you feel more satisfied at
dinner, but it will stay with you longer on the
Atkins diet.
3.
THE ATKINS DIET IS SAFE AND HEALTHY.
The vast majority of studies show the Atkins diet
to be extremely healthy, in comparison to other
conventional weight loss and lifestyle diets.
Nearly every study shows the Atkins diet the winner
in reducing cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood
pressure. In addition, many cases of acid reflux,
sleep apnea, and diabetes have either had the
symptoms reduced or completely disappear while
on the Atkins diet.
Also, you'll often hear "we
have no way of knowing the long term safety of
low carb diets". Fact is, the Atkins diet
has been around for over 30 years - longer than
most other weight loss programs. Although first
written about at the end of the 19th century,
the low carb diet has actually been around for
centuries prior to that.
How so? The North American
Eskimo. Their diet has primarily been no or very
low carbs. Yet chronic diseases that are epidemic
today, such as diabetes and heart disease, were
practically unknown among the Eskimos. At least
this was true until they were introduced to sugar
and white flour. The Eskimos have been well studied
and found to be a healthy and hardy bunch, even
after centuries of living on a low carb diet.
Yes - a low carb diet much more extreme than even
the Atkins diet.
Atkins Diet - The Bad Stuff.
4.
THE ATKINS DIET BURNS FAT TOO QUICKLY.
The primary concern here is toxic overload. When
toxins enter you body, either from environmental
sources or from additives in prepared foods, your
body's defense mechanism will quickly try to eliminate
them through the liver and kidneys. Quite often
the overload is such that the body will also hide
some of these toxins in your fat cells. When burning
fat these toxins are released again into your
bloodstream. You can experience toxic overload
when you burn fat too fast, as in the first weeks
or months of the Atkins diet.
5.
THE ATKINS DIET CAUSES FATIGUE.
Yes, initially it does - for a couple of reasons.
First, switching fuels from glucose to ketones
is stressful to the body. It's a drastic change
in your metabolism. You might say it's similar
to mild drug withdrawal. Many people actually
do have a "carb addiction" and not even
realize it. Secondly, as we learned a minute ago,
your body will quite likely be working hard dealing
with toxic overload if burning fat too fast, as
early in the Atkins diet.
6.
THE ATKINS DIET LACKS GOOD NUTRITION.
Plant life is the basic nutritional source for
all living creatures, including humans. When an
animal eats plants, some of the nutrients, such
as calcium and other minerals, are sent to different
parts of the body where needed. And even if we
eat an animal from nose to tail, including the
bones, we are still missing some of these nutrients
and essential enzymes that are burned up in the
metabolic process. Good nutrition suffers when
we drastically limit carbs, particularly with
the induction phase of the Atkins diet.
Atkins Diet - Is It Right
for You?
The Atkins diet has been proven
safe, effective and Dr. Atkins' nutritional concepts
are basically sound. This is probably the best
choice for fast weight loss for an upcoming wedding
or cruise - or to jump start your new life. A
lot of water and a GOOD vitamin supplement are
strongly recommended with ANY diet, but particularly
with the Atkins diet.
The Atkins diet can be adjusted
to a less aggressive program if you have a lot
of weight to lose and wisely choose to lose the
pounds more slowly over a longer period of time.
This would be less stressful, much healthier and
give the stretched skin a chance to shrink. Skipping
the induction phase is one way. You may find this
more sustainable over the long haul using the
Atkins diet.
One important key to health
and success with any low carb diet is to make
every carb count by choosing nutrient dense live
carbs. These include fresh vegetables such as
broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and green beans. This
is critical where total carbs are very limited
- such as with the first two stages of the Atkins
diet.
Author: Mickael Kerenterff.
For more information, please visit my website
at http://www.SuccessfulWeightLossSecretsRevealed.com
where you can grab a free e-course about Weight
Loss Secrets. You will discover How to Get Rid
of those Stubborn Body Fats, Lose Weight Easily,
and Overall Maintain a Healthy, Sexy Body!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mickael_Kerenterff |
