Seniors Turn to Atkins Diet to Improve Overall Health

Not only can the Atkins Diet help seniors lose weight, but it can help them decrease cholesterol levels and improve blood glucose sugar levels. Many seniors suffer from chronic health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.

Dr. Atkins created the diet to help people lose weight but also to help improve patients' overall health. The diet focuses on a big reduction in carbohydrates from the daily diet. As a result, he body then goes into ketosis. Ketosis allows the body to burn fat more efficiently (which helps with weight loss).

According to Atkins, ketosis will also affect blood glucose levels and insulin production. This will help fat from accumulating within the body. The Atkins Diet centers around this idea of ketosis: once the body begins ketosis it will begin to efficiently use fat as fuel and the craving for carbohydrates will eventually subside.

Low Fat, Carbohydrate Packed Diets Put Seniors at Risk

Other diet plans that are in high in refined sugar and complex carbohydrates like bread, pasta, cereal, and low fat processed foods increase the production of insulin. When insulin levels are high, weight gain happens quickly and puts people at risk for Type 2 diabetes.

The food is then converted quickly into fat (triglycerides). As a result, cholesterol levels will also increase. High triglyceride counts and high cholesterol levels account for many diseases including heart disease and cancer.

High carbohydrate foods will also tend to make seniors want to eat more. They won't feel as satisfied as opposed to foods with that have some fat and protein. Some of the worst carbohydrate offenders are refined processed foods like sugar and white flour.

How the Low Carbohydrate Eating Plan Works

o Induction - Rapid weight loss occurs during the first 14 days because of the limitation of carbohydrates to 20 grams per day. Allowed carbohydrates include: lettuce, broccoli and tomatoes (3 cups per day). Yogurt, fruit, caffeine, alcohol and starchy vegetables are not allowed. Proteins such as eggs and meat are allowed.

o Ongoing weight loss - Dieters can increase carbohydrates intake by five grams per day. The body hits a plateau and then dieters move away from carbohydrates intake again.

o Pre-maintenance - Weight loss moves more slowly for dieters. Dieters will test certain foods by adding them slowly back into the diet (without gaining weight as a result).

o Maintenance - Once dieters reach their goal weights, they can introduce more carbohydrates back into their diet.

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