Advantages and Disadvantages of the Atkins Diet

woman eating a salad

The popularity of Atkins is a double-edged sword for dieters. There is a lot of information available on the diet, which makes it easy to find resources and support. Few diets have ever been more controversial than the Atkins Diet Plan. First introduced by Dr. Robert Atkins in 1972, the plan severely restricts consumption of carbohydrates in the form of bread, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables. The diet espouses the theory that carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels, releasing insulin. Insulin then prevents fat from breaking down in the body. Consequently, you will not burn fat or lose weight.

As promised, the article today is about the pros and cons of Atkins diet. After reading the article you get to decide if you want to follow its rules or not.

Advantages:

  • Quick results: Those who follow the plan closely report quick and significant weight loss, particularly during induction, the first and most restrictive phase. The quick success motivates them to stay on the diet.
  • There are studies that show that low-carbs eating improves triglycerides, reduces blood glucose for diabetics and pre-diabetics and increases good cholesterol (HDL).
  • Atkins is also simple to use, compared with some other low-carbs diets on the market. There are some basic food carbohydrate counts that you’ll need to learn, but after that, you are free to eat from the acceptable food lists.
  • Increased mental awareness; using high protein and low-carbohydrate foods usually creates more mental concentration and lighter stomach and also easier digestion for the people who have no intolerance to meat-based products.
  • No hunger pangs: as long as followers of the Atkins plan stick to “permitted” foods, there is a set limit to how much they can eat. Also, restricting the number of carbohydrates keeps blood sugar levels stable, so there are fewer in-between-meals hunger pangs.
  • If you have been a minimal fat dieter in previous years, you’ll enjoy eating all of those “forbidden foods” that you just once had to go without having. Steak, butter and cream are a regular part of Atkins dieters’ meals.
  • Dr. Atkins also emphasized finding your own personal carbohydrate level. Diverse people have distinct levels of carbohydrate tolerance. While some gain pounds on just 90 carbohydrate grams a day, others can live comfortably at 120 carbohydrate gram.

Disadvantages:

  • Health Risks: the Atkins diet emphasizes foods high in protein; however, foods high in protein may also be high in fat. Too much fat increases “bad” LDL cholesterol. Additionally, the diet limits or restricts fruits and vegetables, depriving dieters of the fiber essential for digestion, which may lead to chronic bowel disease. Limiting consumption of many fruits and vegetables also deprives dieters of antioxidants that help prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer.
  • You do need to count carbohydrates in everything you eat to make sure that you are staying within your personal carbohydrate range. There is also the issue of Induction, the most hotly debate aspect of the plan. Induction can be difficult to get through if you’ve had a diet that centers on carbs and sugar.
  • Possible regaining of weight; apart from strict adherence to the instructions of Atkins diet, constant exercising is also required to maintain the desired weight.
  • Low extent of vitamins and minerals; Atkins diet offers poor nutritionally balanced diet (containing less vitamins and minerals as a result of less consumption of salads and fruits). This can lead to nutritional deficiency.
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Andrea Grace

I've always been collecting various beauty tips and tricks for me and my friends. So, at Beautips I'm sharing this knowledge to you, my friends - to try and test them. Please leave a comment below to know your opinion of my articles, I will answer them, for sure! Editor at Beautips

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