Physiology Behind The Atkins Diet

The Atkins diet is a weight loss program divided into four phases that promote a low carbohydrate intake. The first phase of the Atkins diet recommends limiting your carbs to no more than 20 g a day by giving up sugar, grains, starchy vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt and nuts. The Atkins diet is based on non-starchy vegetables, protein from meat, poultry, fish, eggs and cheese and fat from butter, cream, bacon and oils. The subsequent phases allow the reintroduction of slightly more carbs back into your diet until you determine the optimal amount to lose and then maintain your target weight.

Lower Blood Sugar Levels

By lowering your carbohydrate intake, the Atkins diet allows you to reduce your blood sugar levels after your meals and throughout the day. Carbohydrates come in food like breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, rice, baked goods and potatoes, and sugar, like soft drinks, desserts, candies, milk, yogurt, fruits and fruit juices. After you eat carbohydrate-rich foods, the carbs they contain are broken down into sugar, which are then absorbed into your bloodstream to elevate your blood sugar levels. With the Atkins diet, your blood sugar levels do not fluctuate as much and stay more stable throughout the day.

Lower Insulin Levels

Following the Atkins diet can help you lower your overall blood sugar levels throughout the day, which will consequently result in lower insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas in response to rising blood sugar levels. This is why eating a high-carb diet results in higher blood sugar levels and higher insulin levels. The Atkins diet, by being low in carbs, results in lower blood sugar levels and lower insulin levels.

Insulin and Fat Storage

Insulin accomplishes its role of lowering blood sugar levels by helping the extra sugar in circulation in your blood to enter your body cells where the sugar is used for energy. Once the energy needs of your cells are exceeded, the leftover sugar is stored, first as glycogen. Once the glycogen stores are full, the remaining sugar is converted to fat and stored as fat. While your insulin levels are high, your body is in a mode of stocking up and cannot release stored energy or burn fat.

Atkins Diet and Weight Loss

The premise behind the Atkins diet is that by lowering your insulin levels, it is easier for your body to access and use your body fat stores as a source of energy, helping you lose weight, according to endocrinologist Dr. Eric Westman, co-author of "The New Atkins for a New You." Moreover, the high fat and moderate protein content of the Atkins diet is very satiating and can make it easier for you to spontaneously consume less calories, without even having to count your calories, according to a study published in 2008 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."