The Atkins Diet is essentially a high protein / very low carb diet. The premise of the Atkins Diet is by drastically reducing carbs, your body will reach into it’s reserve and burn body fat. This is better known as Ketosis.  Initial daily carb intake is about 20 grams per day. Carbs come from salads and green vegetables. Diet allows generous portions of meats and dairy products.

Carbs may be gradually increase after the initial phase of the diet but the body should always be in a fat burning mode.

Benefit:  Short term success.  Most people will lose weight during the first 4 to 6 weeks

Our Evaluation: Carb reduction is so severe that it may not be safe for everyone.  Most people need at least 150 grams of carbs per day just to function and 20 grams is not a healthy intake of carbs. This severe reduction of carbs over the long period causes lost of valuable muscle tissue instead of fat.

The Atkins Diet tends to leave you feeling weak. The drastic reduction of carbs may cause loss of energy and moodiness. The over emphasis on meats can lead to a poor choice of fatty meats that may create high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease. The Atkins Diet can be very difficult to follow over a long period because of the drastic reduction of carbs. 

All carbs are not bad. Simple carbs from excess refined sugar, white flour and junk food should be greatly reduced. Complex carbs that come from whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables are necessary nutrients and builds muscles. People who subscribe to the Atkins Diet may lose a few pounds but those pounds will be mostly water and muscle mass. Excess loss of muscle looks sickly.

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For more ideas on foods that burn fat, please see our home page ….  Super Foods that Burn Fat

For similar diet check out the South Beach Diet