Because so many Americans face weight loss challenges, there are many different diet programs that have become popular over the years. The Atkins Diet is one of these; it involves severely restricting carbohydrates in an attempt to change your metabolism. There are several problems, however, with the Atkins Diet, both in terms of how it affects your body and how it affects your lifestyle.
The Atkins Diet
Dr. Robert Atkins popularized the Atkins Diet, which is one of many low-carbohydrate diets. In his book "Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution," he explains that the body burns fat most efficiently when you provide it with fat to burn -- and deny it carbohydrates. There are many different phases of the Atkins Diet, though the most extreme is the induction phase, in which you limit carbohydrates almost entirely. Dieters typically eat fewer than 20 grams of carbohydrates each day during the early weeks of dieting.
Ketosis
The purpose of the Atkins Diet is to put your body into a metabolic state called ketosis, which occurs as you deny your brain the fuel -- glucose -- that it needs to remain functional. Your brain can't use protein or fat for energy, explain Dr. Reginald Garrett and Dr. Charles Grisham in their book "Biochemistry." As such, if you're not eating carbohydrates, you produce molecules called ketone bodies from fats. These enter circulation and fuel the brain.
Ketosis Ramifications
There are several negative ramifications of ketosis. The first is that ketone bodies have an odd smell to them, and if you have ketone bodies circulating in your bloodstream, others will be able to smell them on your skin and breath. Many people find the odor they develop on the Atkins Diet to be unpleasant. Secondly, ketosis is incompatible with hard physical efforts; you will likely be unable to exercise to any significant degree while in ketosis.
Other Problems
While studies haven't found major lasting physical effects of being on the Atkins Diet, there are nevertheless additional side effects that you experience while you're dieting. Dr. Carol Johnston and colleagues, in a 2006 article published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," note that the Atkins Diet tends to increase the likelihood of depression and emotional symptoms compared to other, more balanced diets. You may also find that you feel mentally slow, as your brain isn't getting the glucose it needs to run optimally.
References
- "Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution"; Robert Atkins; 1981
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D. and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets have no metabolic advantage over nonketogenic low-carbohydrate diets; Carol Johnston et al; May 2006
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