Atkins Diet Review: Rules, Risks And Foods To Eat For Beginners
The Atkins diet is one of the most-sought-out weight loss diets. This popular diet was first developed by cardiologist Robert C. Atkins in the 1960s. Atkins then published a best-selling book in 1972 titled Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution. From there, the popularity of this carb-controlled diet took off.
Atkins Diet Review: Rules, Risks And Foods To Eat For Beginners
What is the Atkins diet?
Atkins is a low-carb diet designed for weight loss. Similar to a ketogenic diet, Atkins helps the body burn fat instead of sugar from carbohydrates. On this diet, you restrict your simple carbohydrate intake (white bread, baked goods, sugars, etc.) and turn to more fiber-rich, nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits and complex carbohydrates. This diet also allows fats, meats and full-fat dairy. While calorie counting is not required, you must keep track of how many carbs you eat a day (more on that later).
Atkins Diet Review: Rules, Risks And Foods To Eat For Beginners
Atkins’ four-phase plan
The Atkins diet has four phases: introduction, balancing, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance. The first phase is the strictest, requiring you to cut out almost all carbohydrates. The second and third phases involve slowly adding in more carbs from vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and some fruits. The fourth phase is taking what you learned from Atkins and applying it to your lifelong diet. You can eat as many healthy carbs as your body allows in this phase.
Atkins Diet Review: Rules, Risks And Foods To Eat For Beginners
While most may start with phase one, you can start with any of the first three phases.
Atkins Diet Review: Rules, Risks And Foods To Eat For Beginners
Atkins diet benefits and risks
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Atkins Diet Review: Rules, Risks And Foods To Eat For Beginners
In addition to being a diet that gets you to eat more whole foods such as fruits, vegetables and meats, the Atkins diet has a few other health benefits.
Atkins Diet Review: Rules, Risks And Foods To Eat For Beginners
Possible weight loss
Atkins is known as a weight loss plan due to the results that some people have on a low-carb diet. When the body is in ketosis, it will use fat as energy since it is being deprived of carbohydrates. In theory, the body would burn fat instead of storing it.
In one study that looked at popular diets, Atkins was a diet that showed the most potential for meaningful long-term and short-term weight loss. Note that in this study, exercise was encouraged in addition to the diet.
The other possible benefits of the Atkins diet…