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About Diets
Do
you need to diet?
Metabolism
Binge Eating Disorder
Popular "Fad" Diets
Atkins Diet
Mayo Clinic Diet
Zone Diet
Cabbage Soup Diet
Grapefruit Diet
Very Low Calorie Diets
Fit for Life Diet
Sugar Busters Diet
The
Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet is a low carbohydrate diet that is very high
in proteins. The Diet allows unrestricted amounts of protein,
including meats, eggs and cheese, and strongly limits foods
high in carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread and fruit. The
focus is on restricting processed and refined carbohydrates,
including cereals, pastas, breads, starch and many high sugar
foods.
The diet is based on the belief that stable blood sugar levels
throughout the day relieve cravings for food and that the food
that is eaten on the diet, such as lots of meat, eggs,
cheese, nuts, etc. are less processed than many other foods
and more nutritious. Atkins believes that following this diet
plan enables a change in metabolism, as consuming a high level
of carbohydrates causes the overproduction of insulin, which
he believes causes increased hunger and weight gain.
Carbohydrates are limited to between 15 - 60 grams per day,
while foods high in protein and fat are recommended.
Carbohydrates are the body's primary energy source. Fat is the
body's secondary energy source. The Atkins Diet rests on the
assumption that with limited carbohydrate intake, the body
begins to burn fat for it's primary source of energy. It also
purports that eating less processed foods eliminates the large
amount of toxins stored in fat cells, and those that are
stored get burned for the body's fuel.
The popularity of the Atkins diet rests on the fact that
people enjoy eating as much protein and fat as they desire.
Most diet plans recommend the exact opposite. As well, the
diet is quite easy to follow and does not involve highly
complex meal plans or calorie counters.
Most experts in the area of weight loss feel that there is not
enough research to support the Atkins diet. High protein and
high fat diets have in the past been strongly linked to the
development of serious medical conditions, such as high blood
pressure and heart disease.
The Mayo Clinic's Health Living
Centers provides excellent advice and research about
diet and nutrition. Excellent resources about
diets and
nutrition are offered by the Nutrition.gov website. |
