The Atkins Nutritional Approach, popularly known as the Atkins
Diet or just Atkins, is a trendy but controversial high-protein,
high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet popularized by Dr. Robert Atkins
(1930-2003) in a series of books, starting with Dr. Atkins' Diet
Revolution.
Atkins recommends restriction of the intake of carbohydrates
in order to switch the body metabolism from using glucose as the
fuel to burning fat (both dietary and stored fat). This process
of lipolysis begins when the body enters the state of ketosis
as a consequence of running out of carbohydrates to burn.
For the first two weeks of the Atkins diet plan (called Induction),
carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 grams a day, meaning that
protein and fat will, by necessity, form the bulk of the diet.
In order to avoid health problems caused by vitamin and mineral
deficiencies during this period, vitamin and mineral supplements
form an essential part of this phase of the diet.
After the initial two week period, carbohydrate intake is gradually
increased until it reaches a level at which the dieter loses weight
slowly and can reduce or eliminate the supplements. Once the target
weight is reached, carbohydrate levels are again gradually increased
until the dieter's weight becomes stable. Each of these carbohydrate
levels varies from person to person. Dr. Atkins argues that many
eating disorders are the result of hyperinsulinism, or excessive
secretion of insulin, which, according to Atkins, causes food
cravings and unstable blood sugar levels. Atkins claims that his
diet stabilizes insulin and blood sugar levels, eliminating cravings
and often reducing appetite.
Views in favor of the diet
Proponents of the diet mention that low-carbohydrate diets have
been the subject of heated debate in medical circles for three
decades, but are still "damned knowledge", so much so
that until recently no serious research has been done on Atkins
or other low carbohydrate diets. They mention that a few small
research projects, as well as a great deal of anecdotal evidence,
have shown such diets to help participants lose weight. A research
study carried out by the Weight and Eating Disorders Program at
the University of Pennsylvania, reported in May 2003 that the
Atkins diet raised levels of HDL (or "good") cholesterol
by an average of 11% and reduced the amount of triglycerides in
the bloodstream by 17%. In the study, conventional dieters' HDL
cholesterol raised by only 1.6% while their triglyceride levels
did not improve significantly. Weight loss was also statistically
greater in the Atkins dieters after three and six months compared
with the conventional dieters (although this did not remain statistically
significant after a year). The study followed the diets of 63
obese men and women. (See New Scientist, May 21 2003) Two other
large-scale studies are planned, one funded by Atkins's nonprofit
foundation.
There are reports indicating that studies have shown benefits
for heartstroke as well as diabetic patients, and that many experts
are already discussing a low carb nutrition for diabetic patients
who may then be able to live their lives without any insulin.
Like any diet, the health effects will depend a great deal on
the food choices one makes to meet the macronutrient requirements
specified by the diet.
Views critical of the diet
The Atkins diet has generally been considered by most medical
and nutritional experts to be unsound or even quackery. Opponents
of the diet mention that the initial weight loss upon starting
on this diet is a phenomenon common with most diets, and is due
to reduction in stored glycogen and related water in muscles,
not fat loss. They claim that no evidence has surfaced that any
diet will cause weight loss unless it reduces calories below the
maintenance level. Dr. Robert Eckel of the American Heart Association
says that high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets put people at risk
for heart disease.
Another argument is that many countries whose traditional diets
are high in carbohydrates and low in fat (for example, Japan)
have significantly low rates of obesity. This seems to directly
contradict Atkins' claims.
Attribition: This informational article is licensed under the
GNU
Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia
article Atkins
Nutritional Approach.
Atkins diet - online resources
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc
- Official site; includes information about Dr. Robert
C. Atkins and the low-carb eating plan. Also offers recipes, shopping,
and details on the science behind the diet.
Diet
Central - Read reviews of many popular diet programs - Atkins,
The Zone, Weight Watchers, Carbodydrate Addicts, Sugar Busters,
Body For Life, Cabbage Soup Diet, Grapefruit Diet and Protein
Power.
Atkins
Diet Side Effects - A guestbook for people experiencing negative
effects of Dr. Atkins diet.
List of Carbohydrate
Foods - Contains a searchable database for the effective carbohydrate,
fat and calorie content of a large number of food items. It is
designed for those following the Atkins diet.
Low Carb Unlimted Atkins
Diet Food Variety - Offering 20+ Brands of low carb foods.
Diet Depot - On-line catalog
of food products and supplements supporting the Atkins diet, sugar-free
and low carb diets.
Atkins
Recipe - Ingredients and cooking menu tips for low carb diet
plans.
Slimming Solutions
- Offers slimming needs including the new diet patch, Fat Blockers,
Trim Right, Thigh Hip and Tummy Slim, detox programs, cellusli,
dr atkins, as well as hints, tips and advice.
Vitacost.com - Contains
discounts on Atkins diet, Twinlab, Natrol, Nature's Way and Nature's
Herbs.
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc
- Official site; includes information about Dr. Robert C. Atkins
and the low-carb eating plan. Also offers recipes, shopping, and
details on the science behind the diet.
La Tortilla Factory
- Specializing in low-fat, low-carbohydrate tortillas for the
Atkins Diet.
Dukes Chowder House
- Located at Alki, Greenlake and Lake Union; contains menus, reservations,
and "Duke's Version" Dr. Atkins Diet.
Atkins
Diet and Low Carb Diets - Basics of the diet, physiological
explanation of the concept, as well as recipes and Internet resources.
Free Diet Tips: Weight
Loss Advice for Successful Dieting - Helpful resource for
weight loss information, diet tips, Atkins diet plan, body slimming
exercises and low fat recipes.
Atkins low carb diet
chocolates - "Atkins diet low carb chocolates" sells
Ross Chocolates low carbohydrate chocolate bars.
High
Protein Low Carbohydrate Diet - High protein low carbohydrate
weight loss diet program developed using findings from Atkins,
and other high protein low carb diets. Has book and video purchase
information with health tips online.
Low Carb
Recipes, Gourmet Style - By author Karen Barnaby. Recipes
tailored for Atkins diet but suitable to most menus and low carb
diets. Links to other low carb information.
VitalitySecrets:
Dr. Atkins Diet Assistance - Very common under-diagnosed health
conditions can make low carbohydrate diets difficult. Publications
are offered to help with overcoming these conditions in order
to achieve increased vitality and healthy weight loss.
eScribe: Atkins
Diet Bulletin Board - Bulletin board for all topics related
to the Atkins diet.
Atkins Diet Support Forum
- Low carb diet discussion and information including diet summaries
and recipes.
Atkins at Home - Atkins
at Home delivery fresh food to your home. The food is prepared
in accordance with the Atkins diet and is licensed by Atkins Nutritionals.
Web-diets.com - Discussion
forum for Atkins and other low carb diets. Summaries and comparisons
of popular diets are provided.
Low Carb Recipes
- A collection of categorized recipes suitable for diabetics and
followers of the Atkins Diet. Contains a mixture of low carb,
low fat and diet recipes.
A
Taste of the Atkins Diet - Critique of the Atkins diet by
Heartinfo.org. Published November 30, 2001. Does not include recent
research data.
Everything Atkins
- Information pertaining to the Dr. Atkins Diet including chat,
low carb recipes, message boards and more.
Lowcarb.com - Dr. Atkins diet
retailer, offering a varied selection of low carb products.
The
Atkins diet at iVillage. - Contains excerpts from Dr. Atkin's
book, a newsletter, and message board.
Lil' Low
Carb Corner - This site is support for people who are Low
Carbing. Atkins, Protein Power, The Zone and Carbohydrates Addict
Diet.
Low Carb Chocolates
- Low Carb Chocolate from Ross Chocolates. Perfect for low carbohydrate,
diabetic, Atkins diet, sugarfree dieters.
Atkins Diet
Information - A successful Atkins dieter offers advice for
those starting out.
The Atkins Center
- Official site of the Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine.
Includes information about Dr. Robert C. Atkins and the Atkins
Diet, a low-carb eating plan.
Low-Carb Bakery -
Offers low carb diet bakery goods, chocolate candy and desserts
suitable for Dr. Atkins diet.
Best
of Weight Loss: Articles about Dr. Atkins Diet - Covers the
eating plan and low carb research, statistics, and discussions.
Low Carb Mall - Delicious,
taste tested, products for Dr. Atkins' diet and sugar free foods.
Diet
and Body : Atkins Diet and Calorie Intake - Describes clinical
studies by Bassett Research Institute and Durham Veterans Medical
Center showing calorie reduction attributed to carbohydrate abstaining.
Windsor-Hill
Inc. - Unique low carbohydrate foods and sugar-free recipes/candy
from a diabetic professional chef on Dr. Atkins diet.
Atkins Diet and Low Carbohydrate
Weight Loss Support - News, forums, research topics, and recipes
for low-carb dieters. Also includes international directory of
low-carb shopping resources.
Everything Atkins
- Information pertaining to the Atkins Diet. Message board, chat,
and references.
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