The Atkins diet, or Atkins Nutritional Approach, is a commercial weight loss plan created by cardiologist Robert Atkins. Dr. Atkins believed that obesity was the result of low-fat, high-carbohydrate eating. The Atkins plan refocuses thinking on nutrition and low-carbohydrate meals. The mission of the diet is controlled weight loss to burn off fat storage, regulate blood sugar and reach what plan enthusiasts call the "Atkins Carbohydrate Equilibrium."
History
In 1972, Dr. Robert Atkins published his book "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution." The theory worked against what many experts believed. Dr. Atkins proposed that meal plans could contain up to two-thirds fat from meats and cheeses. According to BBC News, the American Medical Association denounced the Atkins diet as a potentially dangerous practice that did not align with healthy eating. Dr. Atkins stated that diets do not need to focus on calorie counting as long as carbohydrates were low. This outraged the medical community and the plan was put under a government microscope. Despite the controversy, the book sold millions and provided Robert Atkins celebrity status.
Approach
The Atkins Nutritional Approach works to balance metabolism. The website for the Atkins diet states that eating the right foods will force the body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. When on the Atkins diet, you do not count calories or worry about portion control. Instead, you count carbs. The process relies on a formula to calculate net carbohydrates. The calculation takes the total carbohydrate content of food and subtracts out the fiber. This allows you to lose weight without feeling hungry or losing energy.
Plan
The diet plan works in phases. Phase 1 is induction. This cuts out most carbohydrates from meals, but allows participants 20 g a day. Phase 2 lets you add back nutrient-rich carbohydrates, such as cheese, berries and nuts. In phase two, the dieter eats up to 60 g of carbs daily. Phase 3 is a teaching system that instructs new ways to manage food that can last a lifetime. The Atkins diet calls this pre-maintenance and it slows weight loss down. Phase 4 is maintenance. Those on the Atkins plan eat between 45 to 100 g of carbohydrates and combine healthy eating with exercise to reach the Atkins Carbohydrate Equilibrium. The length of each phase depends on the dieter's weight loss goal and overall fitness level.
Benefits
This program focuses on protein and fat. This may help those who have a hard time staying on a standard calorie-counting diet. Protein promotes a feeling of fullness. MayoClinic.com reports that one study did show that those on the Atkins diet had improved triglyceride levels in the blood. This means lower cholesterol. The plan also promotes exercise as a vital part of the program. Some features of the Atkins diet include better food choices, balanced blood sugar levels and quick weight loss.
Risks
This diet is controversial for a reason. Eating protein and fat from animal sources may increase your chance of developing heart disease and even some cancers, according to MayoClinic.com. There is some indication that those on the Atkins diet do not eat enough fiber, which may cause constipation and digestive issues. The lack of a balanced diet may result in nutritional deficiencies. The American Medical Association calls the Atkins diet "biochemically incorrect."
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