|
Particularly sugar, fructose, flour and other artificial sugars. Further he states fat to be overrated as a nutritional problem and that hydrogenated oils and trans fats are most dangerous. The Atkins diet reproaches the traditional food pyramid and points out that refined carbohydrates are responsible for the tremendous increase of metabolic and insulin disorders in the 20th century.
A diet low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fat, he argues, can help stabilize the blood sugar levels which can cause depression, mood swings and insomnia. His diet may also eliminate cravings and reduce appetite due to protein and fats taking longer to digest.
A restriction in carb intake to switch the body’s metabolism from burning glucose to burning fat (stored fat) is defined. The body enters a state of ketosis as a consequence of running out of carbs to burn. That is why he advocated using a Ketostix (also used by diabetics) to tell when keto acids causing acidosis were produced. Urine acidity was preferred between 5.0 – 5.5.
The Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase of Atkins consists of an increase in carbohydrate intake, but remaining at levels where weight loss occurs. Carb intake increases by 5 grams of carbs per day each week. A goal in OWL is to find the "Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing". The OWL phase lasts until weight is within 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of the target weight.
Carbohydrate intake is increased again, and the key goal in this phase is to find the "Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance", this is the maximum number of carbohydrates you can eat each day without gaining weight. This may well be above the level of carbohydrates inducing ketosis. So it is not necessary to maintain ketosis forever.
Although the diet is among the most expensive diets (quality proteins are generally more expensive than carbs), it is an effective short- or medium term diet to get rid of excessive fat or to stabilize blood sugar. Long term Atkins diet can be maintained by allowing carbs to enter the diet again according to his plan. Atkins not only provided a weight loss diet, but also a lifelong nutritional regime allowing carbs (healthy carbs) to return to the kitchen.
The diet is not for everyone, but short-term may have tremendous benefits especially for obesity and diabetes.
|
|
