Is the Atkins Diet Safe?
Copyright 2005 Adam Waxler
The Atkins diet is a weight loss diet based on the principle
that the body burns both carbohydrates and fat for calories.
Therefore, according to the Atkins diet, if you reduce the
amounts of carbohydrates in your diet, you will burn more fat
and you will experience more weight loss.
According to the Atkins diet, calories are not the main focus.
The key to losing weight with the Atkins diet is lowering your
carbohydrate intake. By restricting your intake of carbohydrates
you will encourage your body to turn to fat for energy and
therefore your body will be burning fat instead of carbohydrates.
The Atkins diet has provoked a significant amount of controversy
since it was first published. The recommendation to eat a
high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet went against the dietary
recommendations of many established medical institutions. The
Atkins diet was denounced as unsafe, particularly if used as a
life-long weight loss plan. Over the past five to ten years,
there have been numerous studies that come down on both sides of
determining if the Atkins diet is safe. The last version of the
Atkins diet included the admission that calories do matter, and
the advice to 'eat only enough to satisfy hunger'.
The eating plan recommended by the Atkins diet contains very low
portions of carbohydrates, deriving the majority of
carbohydrates from vegetables high in fiber and low in carbs,
and unrestricted portions of proteins, including high fat
proteins like beef, pork and cheese.
Follow up research on people who have used the Atkins Diet to
lose weight show a fast initial weight loss that eventually
levels off. The Atkins Diet has four phases:
Phase 1 of the Atkins Diet: The Induction Phase, which restricts
carbohydrates severely.
Phase 2 of the Atkins Diet: The OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss) Phase,
in which you add in limited carbs and tailor the eating plan to
your tastes.
Phase 3 of the Atkins Diet: Pre-maintenance, with ten pounds or
less to the target goal, deliberately slows weight loss to begin
adjusting the body to after-weight-loss diet.
Phase 4 of the Atkins Diet: Lifetime Maintenance, a long-term
eating plan that emphasizes a low carbohydrate diet and healthy,
long-term eating.
Despite the reassurances that you can "eat all you want and
still lose weight", it is important to pay attention to the
portions recommended in the menus and eating plans at
www.atkins.com.
So who should use the Atkins Diet? Is the Atkins diet safe?
While the Atkins Diet seems on the surface to be directly
counter to what is recommended by most medical institutions,
many of the principles are actually the same. Unless you are
under the care of a physician for a chronic medical condition
like diabetes, high blood pressure, or coronary problems, you
can use the Atkins Diet.