The Atkins diet is one of the most popular diet followed worldwide. It is marketed as a low-carb diet. It was formulated by Dr. Robert Atkins in the 1960s. Since then he has treated thousands of patients. In 1972 he wrote a book Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution to create mass awareness. He passed away in 2003, till then his diet program had gained the approval of many people, including topnotch celebrities.
The Atkins diet is fairly distinct from other diets. Atkins argued that the chief factors contributing to weight gain is eating processed carbohydrates, which mainly includes flour, sugar and high-fructose corn syrups. He claimed that the much clamoring about saturated fats causing nutritional troubles is just a myth. However, trans fats from sources like hydrogenated oils should to be avoided. Dr. Atkins was also not in favor of the food pyramid. He believed that an increase of refined carbohydrates in the diet is the main cause of metabolic imbalances. These beliefs led him to formulate the low-carb diet which
The Atkins diet follows that the carbohydrates should be restricted, in order to change the body's metabolism from burning the glucose to burning the fat stored in the body. This process is called lipolysis, and it starts when the body enters the phase of ketosis, when the body does not have any carbohydrate to burn. The Atkins Diet consists of the following four stages: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and maintenance.
The Atkins diet gained momentum in 2003 and 2004. at this moment, one in every eleven North American was religiously following this diet. During this time the sales of carbohydrate rich foods like rice and pasta came down. The criticism against this time came in the open at the same time. As many people followed this diet, there were many who were totally against it. Many medical physicians argue that eliminating carbohydrates altogether from the diet can have negative impact on it.
Some people even have many misconceptions regarding this diet. Staying off carbohydrates does not imply that one can go heavy with fatty meats and cheeses. Moreover, this diet plan supports physical workout. Dr Atkins ascertained that supplementing the low-carb diet with regular exercises will always your in the favor of weight loss.
It is difficult to conclude whether this diet is for real, with all the favoritism and criticism. It is best to follow the diet for sometime and decide for oneself. The key is to listen to your body, it can never lie.
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