Atkins Diet

The popular and well marketed Atkins diet is a low carbohydrate and high protein diet created by Dr. Robert Atkins. Dr Atkins argued that the problem with the modern diet is the fact that we are eating too many refined carbohydrates like sugar, flour and white rice. He also believes that saturated fat is not the main cause for obesity in the modern diet. Ironically, Dr Atkins fatally slipped on an icy sidewalk in 2003. The coroner performing his autopsy reported that if the fall didn’t kill him, he would have died of a heart attack pretty soon anyways. It is an irony because his world famous diet professes healthy eating and his arteries were clogged due to an unhealthy diet and the build-up of saturated fats.

The Atkins diet involves restricting carbohydrates in order to switch the body’s metabolism from burning glucose to burning stored fats. This happens when the body runs out of excess carbohydrates to burn. However this method has been criticized as the weight loss could be a result of a lower fat and calorie intake. The limited food causes the diet to become monotonous and boring resulting in fewer calories being consumed. We at diets.net.nz haven’t heard of a single case where the Atkins diet has been maintained for a long period of time and thus conclude that it is not sustainable.

Dr Atkins believes that the failure of other diets is because the individual is left hungry and eventually gives in to the wrong food in order to satisfy their appetite. The Atkins diet is based on food with a low GI which means that blood sugar levels will rise slowly and decrease slowly leaving the individual satisfied for longer with no urge to snack on the wrong foods.

This diet is not balanced and can have side effects such as bad breath, tiredness and lack of energy. For further information please see www.atkins.com. This website recommends the GI or GR2 Control diet for healthy weight loss.

However, the Atkins diet does have its place. If someone wanted to loose weight quickly, for say a wedding or event, the Atkins diet would work. But maintaining your weight is a different story, a sustainable diet is needed for maintenance. It’s not so much a diet as much as a way of life.