Bodybuilders are all about making muscle gains and looking the best that they can for competitions. That may be why many bodybuilders are attracted to unhealthy diet plans like the Atkins diet that make big promises that they often don't deliver. The carbohydrate restrictions in the Atkins diet make it difficult for bodybuilders to be healthy and can often even pose health risks that hurt the bodybuilder's ability to meet his goals.
The Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet is a diet that was started in 1972 by Dr. Robert Atkins. The diet is split into four different stages. In the first stage dieters are to consume less than 20 grams of proteins a day, and after the first two weeks the level of carbohydrates permitted slowly increases but always remains much lower than the recommended amount. The theory behind the diet is that since the body does not have enough carbohydrates to meet all of its energy needs it will enter a state known as ketosis. In ketosis the body burns fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. Although the diet is effective over short periods it is seen as dangerous by dieticians and doctors.
Atkins Carbohydrate Requirements Versus Recommended
The daily limit for the Atkins diet after you have made it past the low-carbohydrate induction period is 60 grams a day. The recommended daily allowance of carbohydrates for both men and women is 130 grams a day over twice the amount allowed by the Atkins diet. The ultra-low carbohydrate levels in the Atkins diet aren't healthy for people with sedentary lifestyles, let alone athletes such as bodybuilders who exercise several times a week.
Bodybuilders Need Carbohydrates
Many bodybuilders are attracted to the Atkins diet because they believe it will help them shed unwanted fat and get a lean physique that will improve their chances at competitions. What bodybuilders do not realize is that they need those carbohydrates to continue staying in great shape. Carbohydrates are the only substance that can meet the energy demands of the body, and when they are left out of the diet, fatigue is one of the most frequent side effects. Bodybuilders will find themselves lacking the energy to complete demanding workouts and over the long-term will not be able to make as significant gains with the Atkins diet as they would with a diet of normal carbohydrate levels.
Other Dangers of Low Carbohydrates
In place of carbohydrates, most bodybuilders consume large amounts of protein because they believe this will help with muscle building. The Atkins diet completely supports this practice, but it may lead to unhealthy results. The body is only equipped to deal with so many proteins at a time, and when that amount is exceeded the additional proteins are converted to fat for storage. Excess proteins also put more strain on the kidneys, which have to process them. According to the experts at Vanderbilt University, the ketosis state brought on by a low-carbohydrate diet can lead to excess excretion of water and sodium, leading to dehydration. Bodybuilders who are completing high levels of physical activity and sweating out a lot of water don't need the added risk of dehydration that ketosis creates.
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