The Atkins Diet is another diet program that is aimed at weight loss. Unlike other diet fads though, this type of diet does not require you to starve yourself. Instead, it focuses on adapting healthy eating habits that promote good health while helping you keep your weight in check.
What is the Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet is considered a revolutionary diet that has been the subject of recent diet topics. This diet hinges on the idea that too much carbohydrates in your diet can eventually lead to the possibility of becoming overweight. When your body produces energy, it burns the carbohydrates first then fat. Therefore, the Atkins Diet believes that by reducing carbohydrates, your body will be forced to burn off the fat instead. This is where weight loss comes in since your stored fat are quickly and efficiently eliminated from your body.
Those who follow the Atkins Diet do so for three basic reasons: weight loss, improved health, and prevention of illnesses.
Here are the basic premises of the diet plan for Atkins Diet, which determines what type of food is consisted in it:
This diet does not necessarily set limitations on the amount of food you intake. Instead, it is more focused on determining the type of food you eat. The Atkins Diet does not allow milk, refined sugar, white flour, or white rice.
No "rich" foods including eggs, cheese, meat, etc.
Atkins Diet is more focused on protein and fat. The following food types are allowed: fish, red meat, regular cheese, butter, mayo and olive oil.
Your intake of carbohydrates are restricted to 20 grams during the first couple of weeks.
Does not allow fruits and only certain few leafy green vegetables are allowed for this diet for the initial two-week period, although you can add it once you’re past that period.
In every stage of this diet plan, exercise is highly emphasized for better results.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Atkins Diet
Although the Atkins Diet is a valid option for weight loss, some health experts are concerned about the long-term effects of using this diet on one’s health. The components of the Atkins Diet is quite effective in weight loss and in reducing the amount of bad cholesterol and toxic substances in your body. However, experts remain tentative about this diet’s capacity to prevent diseases like stroke, cancer, or heart disease due to the high amount of protein included in this diet. Add to that the fact that this diet plan is quite restrictive and beginners might find adjusting difficult.
While studies are well underway to either prove or detract these criticisms, real people who achieved real results are the true testament of this diet’s capacity to help one lose weight. The theory behind the Atkins Diet is built on a reliable concept but then again, those with existing heart risks need to proceed with caution.
