During the 1960s and 70s Dr Robert C Atkins began putting together his ideas on the benefits of a low carbohydrate diet. Ever since he first postulated his theory it's been surrounded by debate. On one side there are those who fervently support 'The Atkins Diet', proclaiming it a diet revolution and on the other there are those who believe it to be no better than eating a balanced diet and that it may actually be harmful. This controversy didn't stop The Atkins Diet from becoming a worldwide phenomenon and at its peak in 2003/04 it's estimated that one in ten Americans were following its recommendations.
After reading a research paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr Atkins began to formulate the idea that by removing carbohydrates from our diets we can achieve dramatic weight loss. His diet says that weight loss can be achieved by substituting the carbohydrates in our diets for fat and protein. The basic theory behind this is that it takes more energy to digest fat and protein than it does carbohydrates so by substituting them you are immediately using more calories.
Those that believe in the benefits of Atkins' system say that studies have shown followers of this diet to have had reduced risks of heart disease, inflammation and diabetes and have raised levels of the 'good' HDL cholesterol and increased insulin resistance.
So what does this diet require you to do in order to get these claimed benefits? The first step is to remove all carbohydrates from your diet. This is quite drastic for many people because it means you can't eat sugar, flour, potatoes, rice, wheat or oats, this means no more pasta, bread fruit juices, pastries, most carbonated soft drinks and anything else in your diet that contains carbohydrates. After a certain amount of time you will reintroduce some carbohydrates back into your diet but only to a sustainable level as suggested by the diet and probably not to what you were consuming before.
As already mentioned, a low carbohydrate diet is not without its critics. Those on the other side of the fence refer to studies indicating increased risks in many areas for followers of a low carbohydrate diet, including raised risks of coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, cardio vascular disease, kidney stones and arrhythmia. The drastic changes required by The Atkins Diet leave many of those opposed to it to claim that it is just a more famous fad diet that does more harm than good in the long-run. They back up their case with other studies showing other, albeit more minor but still important negative side effects of a low carbohydrate diet. These include cramps, rashes, general weakness, diarrhoea, kidney disease and gout.
The debate over the health benefits of a low carbohydrate diet will no doubt rage for years to come. For those considering following this type of diet there are other, non-medical elements to think about. Many find following such a strict diet very hard, particularly in the first few days and weeks. If you are one of these people it may be better for you to follow a diet program that aims to get you eating in a more balanced way. One other important factor in these difficult economic times is that just eating protein and fat is a far more expensive way of life. Meat prices are set to continue to rise throughout the world as the developing nations become wealthier.
It's very difficult to come to a final conclusion on the benefits of low carbohydrate diets such as The Atkins Diet. All that can really be suggested is that any person considering following one should be fully aware of the facts and make their own judgment about the long-term health risks involved.
If you're interested in losing weight or just want to find out more about a evaporatetheweight.com/pros-and-cons-of-a-low-carbohydrate-diet.php low carbohydrate diet, you'll find a wealth of dietary information and tips throughout my site, including a great review of this evaporatetheweight.com/the-diet-solution-program-review.php great weight loss program.
Nothing in this article should be construed as instruction or advice and before beginning any diet appropriate medical advice should be obtained.
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