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Atkins Diet Complications

Mar 30, 2011 | By Allison Adams

The Atkins Diet is the prototype of the low-carbohydrate diet. The central premise of the diet requires you to consume foods with a high protein and very low carbohydrate content. The rigid version of the Atkins Diet requires you to consume no bread, potatoes, pasta, rice or cereals and only a minimum of fruit and vegetables.

How Does the Diet Work?

For some people, high-protein intake suppresses appetite. For other people, ketosis from carbohydrate restriction suppresses appetite. Restricting carbohydrates eliminates some foods that you can consume in excess including bread, soft drinks, pasta and French fries. By simply excluding carbohydrate foods, individuals following the Atkins Diet consume fewer calories in a day. When carbohydrate intake is restricted, two metabolic processes occur in your body that simultaneously reduce total body water content. That's why in the first week of the Atkins Diet many people experience weight loss of five to seven pounds. However, this weight loss is typically not sustained beyond a year.

Cardiovascular Effects

Losing weight when indicated is beneficial but a that require you to consume a large amount of high-fat meats and dairy products can raise your body's cholesterol levels. In addition, high fat diets can increase circulating free fatty acids and free fatty acid flux. There is no daily recommended intake for saturated fat because the body itself synthesizes the essential fatty acids it needs. Research conducted by the Mayo Clinic supports the conclusion diets rich in saturated fat can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.

Gastrointestinal Effects

The Atkins Diet also almost completely excludes fruits, vegetables and grains. This can cause micronutrient deficiencies in your body that can compromise  your overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, long-term daily intake of red meat, such as lamb and beef, can lead to an increased risk of colon cancer. In addition, the Atkins Diet also increases the risk of developing ketosis. Incomplete breakdown of fat in your body causes ketosis and symptoms of this condition include headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, increased thirst and weakness.

Effects on kidney function

The increased protein consumption of the Atkins diet makes your body's kidneys work harder to clean protein metabolites. However, this response to increased production of nitrogen is insufficient, and this causes the blood urea nitrogen levels to increase. This increase can lead to health problems. In addition, the Atkins Diet can cause increased uric acid leading to gout and osteo-articular problems. Also because of the diet can cause calcium losses, you have an increased risk of developing kidney stones.

References

Article reviewed by MER Last updated on: Mar 30, 2011

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