The late Dr. Robert Atkins believed that an increase in high-carbohydrate foods is the primary reason that the percentage of Americans who are obese has increased dramatically since 1975. For that reason, the Atkins diet calls for a dramatic reduction in the consumption of carbohydrates. Atkins' diet is based on the idea that carbohydrates increase your body's blood sugar levels far more than fats and proteins. Excess sugar in your body is the primary source of body fat, according to Atkins.
Statistical Evidence
There is a correlation between Americans eating more carbohydrates and becoming more obese, according to "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution." Citing a 1997 article in "Family Economics and Nutrition Review," Atkins explains that Americans got about 41 percent of their calories from carbohydrates in 1978, 48 percent in 1991, and 51 percent in 1995. The percentage of calories from fat declined from 42 to 32 percent from 1978 to 1995. During the same time frame, the number of states in which at least 35 percent of adults were overweight increased to 46 from seven.
Nutrition Pyramid
Atkins' nutrition pyramid is based on his view of carbohydrates. The base of his pyramid contains low-carbohydrate foods like beef, fish, poultry and pork, and the tip contains high-carbohydrate breads, cereal, pasta. In contrast, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's nutrition pyramid has breads, cereal, pasta and rice at the base and meats, poultry and fish near the tip.
Carbohydrates Banned
Atkins believes that carbohydrates are so harmful that they induce you to crave more carbohydrates, creating an endless cycle of poor eating. He wrote in "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" that you can train your body to eliminate its cravings by not eating many carbohydrates for the first two weeks of your diet. The banned carbohydrates include breads, fruits, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables. After two weeks with limited carbohydrates, your body will be broken of the cravings and you are allowed to slowly introduce "healthy carbohydrates" back into your diet.
Healthy Carbohydrates
Most carbohydrates turn into blood sugar, also known as glucose, but carbohydrates that have a lot of fiber don't, according to Atkins. "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" includes a carbohydrate gram counter that measures which foods are healthy and tells readers how many grams of carbohydrates are in one serving of food. The book does not count grams of fiber even though fiber is a carbohydrate. Healthy carbohydrates with a lot of fiber include beans, nuts and seeds, whole unrefined grains, and many fruits and vegetables.
Glycemic Index
The glycemic index is another measurement that Atkins uses to ascertain which carbohydrates are good. It measures how fast a food's carbohydrates are turned into blood sugar. According to Atkins, it proves that complex carbohydrates are bad because potatoes and cereals have very high scores. The glycemic index shows that fruits like watermelon (72 GI score), pineapple (66) and banana (52) are bad carbs while cherries (22), grapefruit (25) and strawberries (32) are good.
References
- "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution"; Dr. Robert Atkins; 2002
- "Atkins Diabetes Revolution"; Dr. Robert Atkins, Mary Vernon and Jacqueline Eberstein; 2004
- "Essentials for Health and Wellness"; Gordon Edlin, Eric Golanty, Kelli McCormack Brown; 2000
- "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program For Reversing Heart Disease"; Dr. Dean Ornish; 1996
- "The New Pritikin Program"; Robert Pritikin; 1990
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