The Atkins Nutritional Approach is a low carbohydrate diet for weight loss. The theory is that if you consume a small amount of carbohydrates, your body will need to get its energy from stored fat and you will lose weight. To limit carbohydrates, the Atkins diet restricts starches and emphasizes on protein and fats, leading to the risk for dietary imbalances. When considering the Atkins diet, be aware of its potential long-term health risks.
Temporary Weight Loss
A potential problem from the Atkins diet is regaining the weight you lose. According to MayoClinic.com, some of the initial rapid weight loss on Atkins may be the result of losing water weight from the low-carbohydrate diet. If you later return to a more moderate diet, you are likely to quickly regain that weight. The Atkins diet may be effective because it drastically reduces common foods that are high in carbohydrates. This may cause you to cut back your caloric intake because you have fewer appealing foods to choose from. However, you might eventually get bored with your limited food choices so that you go back eating more carbohydrates and more overall calories, leading to weight gain.
Heart Disease
Staying on the Atkins diet may increase your risk for developing heart disease. At each meal, the diet requires you to eat a source of fat and protein such as butter, eggs, meats, poultry and mayonnaise. If you choose fatty meats and other unhealthy sources of fats, you may increase your risk for cardiovascular disease by having too much saturated fat and cholesterol. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend keeping saturated fat to under 10 percent of total calories, and cholesterol to under 300 mg per day, but the Atkins diet may lead you to have more than this. In addition, your risk for heart disease could increase if you do not have enough fiber from healthy carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes because dietary fiber can lower cholesterol levels.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies can potentially result from the Atkins diet because the diet severely restricts high carbohydrate foods. Some carbohydrate foods, such as those with high amounts of added sugars, are sources of calories but no essential nutrients. However, other carbohydrate sources such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy provide vitamins and minerals. Fruits and vegetables supply vitamins A and C, enriched and fortified grains and whole grains have B vitamins and iron and milk, cheese and yogurt may have calcium and vitamin D. The instructions for the Atkins diet are to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement to prevent nutrient deficiencies, but according to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, you should try to meet your nutritional requirements from whole foods because of their other beneficial properties such as antioxidants from fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
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