Important Atkins Diet Facts

By Lee Reid

Diet has become one of the most employed methods to control a persons weight. In addition to weight control issues, particular unwellness such as diabetes may prompt an individual to observe a low carbohydrate diet. The Atkins diet is a low carb diet formulated by Dr. Robert Atkins who was an American physician and cardiologist. This Atkins diet was founded on a diet which was issued in the Journal of American Medical Association which Dr. Atkins himself employed to treat his corpulence.

The Atkins diet which is more officially known as Atkins Nutritional Approach contradicted the existing nutritional theories of that time stating that certain unidentified aspects of western eating habits caused weight gain. Furthermore, Dr. Atkins attributed obesity to the consumption of refined carbohydrates such as sugar, flour and corn syrups that contain loaded fructose amounts. The Atkins diet works by restraining the carbohydrate consumption of the body and in turn interchanging the metabolic process of the body from burning glucose to burning the stored amounts of fat as bodily fuel. This operation which is known as ketosis is achieved by turning down the insulin levels of the body through lowering the blood glucose levels.

Four stages are included in the Atkins diet and they should be observed strictly to attain the desired results. Induction is the first step of the diet program where an person restrict their day-to-day carbohydrate ingestion to 20 net grams or fewer. This is generally recommended for two weeks and foods should only be chosen from a number of commended foods including moderate amounts of meats, fish, poultry and eggs. In addition, salad vegetables, butter and vegetable oils are also permitted in the diet. However, alcohol is banned and even caffeine is only permitted in moderation. This phase of the Atkins diet is intended to make the body rapidly go into a ketosis state and therefore, the most significant amount of weight loss can be experienced in this period of time. The other three stages of the Atkins diet such as ongoing weight loss, pre maintenance and lifetime maintenance takes on methods to gradually increase the carbohydrate consumption of the body while forestalling weight gain.

The Atkins diet has acquired great popularity primarily during 2003 and 2004 regardless of the disputations surrounding it. According to the statistics one in every eleven adults in North America followed the diet during its height of popularity. However, particular scientists and researches claim that although the diet may aid weight loss, it may step-up the chance of other diseases such as heart disease.

The Atkins diet is considered by many as one of the most effective forms of weight loss techniques. Nevertheless, as any method, it has its share of supporters and critics. - 31875

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