Learn the Truth About Atkins Diet and Avoid ‘YO YO’ Dieting

The Atkins Diet falls under the category of one of America’s most popular diets. This diet was first introduced in 1972, and the diet advocated a high protein/low carb approach to health and weight loss. Atkins discovered that when you reduce your carbohydrate intake, not only can you lose weight consistently, but you can begin improving your health in areas such as balancing your insulin levels, and reducing your triglycerides. However, Atkins was no the first to discover the low carb connection since it has its roots in history way before Dr. Atkins wrote his book.

History of the Atkins Diet

In the mid 1800’s, a carpenter/undertaker by the name of William Banting became frustrated with his weight and deteriorating health. After much trial and error with different diets of the times, he developed his “Banting Diet” which consisted of high protein with restricted amounts of carbs and fats. He lost weight consistently at the rate of 1 pound per week for 38 weeks and continued to improve his health as well.

In an article published in Harper’s Magazine, 1935, by Dr. Vilhjalmu Stefansson, a Harvard anthropologist, described how he went to the Arctic alone in order to see how the Eskimos high protein fish diet would affect a European who was not accustomed to this cuisine. Eventually he became to enjoy the benefits of this diet so foreign to his native Europe that he maintained excellent health and weight.

Similarly, in the early 1900’s a dentist known as Weston Price, traveled the world over to study the diets and habits of people who were known for their robust health and longevity. He discovered what he referred to as Traditional Diets to be high protein, high fats such as dairy from grass fed cows, and low complex carbs. These people seemed to have a much stronger bone structure, and teeth than other populations living on the typical American diet. During times of epidemic they also seemed to avoid infections.

And then you have the diet of the Paleolithic age. Based on the foods that our ancestors ate, meats, vegetables, fruit and nuts, these were the foods available to them at the time. With the advance of time, grains, dairy, and sweets were gradually introduced into the diet of modern man, which seems to have led us down a the path of ill health and obesity.

So we see that if we look back in history, the basic concepts of the Atkins Diet, was not really new.

The Diet

The Atkins protocol starts out with an induction period. This lasts for two weeks where you are allowed no more than 20 grams of carbohydrate per day. The diet mostly consists of unlimited amounts of meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, margarine and cold cuts. The source of carbs are taken from the salad dressings, cheese, and lettuce greens and vegetables. Milk, grains, (even whole grains) breads or cereals, are not allowed. Similarly, potatoes, carrots, peas, and corn are also restricted since they are considered “high glycemic” foods. (This means that they enter rapidly into the bloodstream which can lead to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.)

After the two week phase, you are allowed to add 5 grams of carbs to your daily diet, and when you’ve reached your goal, you can have as much as 40-90 grams of carbohydrates for a maintenance diet.

Control of Your Cravings!

Looking at the Atkins Diet from the positive side, you have an opportunity to get your cravings for sugar and carbohydrates under control. You don’t really get hungry when you are allowed all the meat and fats to fill you up. Insulin levels stabilize, and triglicerides tend to become lower. And your weight will most likely come down. Most of the people that I have seen on this diet have been able to lose weight, and fairly quickly as well.

What’s the Down Side?

On the down side though, that 2 week “induction” period can be fairly austere. The high protein/high fat diet with very low carbs, is geared to bringing your body into ketosis. This is where the body burns fat instead of sugar for fuel. This leads to ketone bodies floating in the body and causes nausea, dizziness, and cardiac arrhythmias. If you decide to go on the Atkins Diet, be aware that showing that high protein diets can cause kidney toxicity. The latest research has shown that this can happen if you already have the early stages of kidney toxicity before you even start the diet. Epidemiological studies show that more than 20 million Americans have some sort of kidney disorder, but mostly in people over the age of 65, so you may want to have a thorough check-up with your primary doctor before going on this diet.

Consumer Reports did a cross-study of some of the major popular diets, and determined that one major draw-back to the Atkins Diet is that once people reach their desired level of weight-loss, they find it very difficult to remain on this regiment. This is an important consideration since one of the biggest dilemmas in picking a diet is that you really want a diet to be a long term commitment. What’s been happening is that people would begin “cheating” on the diet, begin to gain back their weight and then either go back to the Atkins Diet to give it another chance, or they will tend to pick another diet and so the wheel turns back and forth leaving you down and out, without a real diet plan for life.

Take the Next Step

I feel that the Atkins Diet is close to being the ideal, however it does need some tweaking. Ideally, one should eat some whole grains, and some fruit. This will prevent ketosis from developing, and it will prevent most of the side effects as well. I don’t recommend frying foods, but if you do, use either olive oil or coconut oil. It’s much healthier for you. Stay away from the trans-fats, such as margarines, and of course, no cakes or cookies. Make sure to eat wholesome fats at each meal, such as raw olive oil, coconut oil, or sesame oil to get a blend of all the omegas 3,6, and 9. These have an anti-inflammatory effect on your body and can help to reduce cravings between meals. I will be describing more ideas of the ideal diet throughout the pages of this website, but your goal is to be able to choose your own balance of exactly how much protein/fat/carbohydrate your body needs, and to keep them in balance. This will enable you to actually stay on a diet for your entire life. This diet you will have molded for yourself once you learn all the principals of good sound diet and nutrition.

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