Atkins Diet Deconstructed: Should You Follow It?

To understand the basics of Atkins diet, one first needs to understand the role of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in our diet and how our body derives energy out of what we eat. Essentially, our body gets its fuel from energy sourced from carbs and sugar or from the existing bank of fat stored in our body. The amount of energy you burn depends on whether you are burning sugar or fat.
In simpler words, our body is capable of turning carbs into sugar; excess carbs would translate to extra sugar which automatically starts adding to your existing pool of body fat. So if you are trying to lose weight by keeping a check on your diet but still consuming food with high amounts of carbs, what you are burning is energy and not fat.
You may also be adding more to the existing bank of fat, which makes it difficult to lose weight. Atkins' theory proposes putting a cap on carbs intake and substituting it with more of protein and fat. The mechanism is simple - when the primary source of energy, which is carbs, is squeezed out of your system, the body automatically switches to the alternate source of energy - fat and protein. This way, you are facilitating weight-loss. How Does it Work?
The diet works in phases. The first phase, also known as the induction stage, would make you cut out carbs almost completely from your diet. Ideally, only 20 grams of carbs intake is allowed during this initial stage, which must be sourced primarily from vegetables. In short, to begin with, you are off grains, cereals, legumes, nuts, fruits, starchy vegetables and any other food item or ingredient which is high in carbs. Once weight-loss is initiated, you should aim at balancing the steady process of weight-loss.
You can now start adding nutrient-rich carbs to your diet; these are predominantly food items that are relatively low in carbs. Nuts, berries, seeds, and more vegetables can now go into your platter. Once weight-loss initiate, you can gradually nuts and seeds in your diet, but in moderation. Keep following the routine till you are close to attaining your desired weight-goal. This phase is all about pre-maintenance where you prep yourself for maintaining your ideal weight. You can now start adding a few starchy veggies, whole grains and legumes back to your meals.
Finally, when you feel that you have achieved your desired weight goal and would be able to maintain it further, you can then, gradually add other ingredients back to your diet. How Effective is Atkins Diet? Unfortunately Atkins diet has raked up much controversy as it involves elimination of the primary source of energy for human body. It is not just plain carbs that we are talking about but added nutrients and minerals that come tagged along with it and are extremely vital for our body.
Experts and nutritionists from across the world believe that prolonged practice of Atkins diet may have grave consequences to human health. Eliminating groups like cereals, nuts, seeds, and legumes can also make one fall deficient of fiber, calcium, potassium, selenium and magnesium. Paleo Diet: Should We Go Back to Eating What Our Ancestors Ate? Dr. Rupali Datta, Chief Clinical Nutritionist at Fortis-Escorts Hospital. She also emphasized the importance of glucose for human body. Our body derives glucose from sugar and carbs, and our brain uses fresh glucose as fuel to function.
One should also keep in mind that, after a sudden switch to a no-carb-high-protein diet, our metabolism starts functioning differently. It starts deriving energy from the alternative sources of energy - protein and fat. All metabolic functions are vested with our liver, hence this switching takes a toll on our liver as well.
Our kidney is responsible for the break-down of protein into urea and flushes it out of the body. Once our dependence on protein increases, our kidney starts flushing out three times the urea than the usual - kidney also comes under stress. Traditionally, we derive 50-60% of energy from carbs. Atkins diet reverses everything, turning everything upside down. Here you are sourcing close to 40% of your energy from protein.
Our daily diet should not have more than 40% of protein intake. Your diet can be structured into a high-protein and low carb one, but not one that eliminates any food group completely. CommentsAny diet regime must not be followed on your own. When it comes to following Atkins diet, experts are of the opinion that one should get a personlised version of it with modifications and improvisations to suit one's goals as well as dietary and nutritional requirements. All diet and weight-loss programmes should be undertaken under strict medical/professional supervision.
As many of you know I will do anything to get that extra edge in my health and fitness regimen! Yesterday’s update examined the Keto Diet vs. Atkins Diet. Today, I am proud to announce I have found a solid Red Tea Detox that will make you feel amazing! I’ve followed the career of naturopath Liz Swann Miller since she launched the “Red Smoothie Detox Factor” regimen several years ago.
Intrigued by detoxing my body, I’ve been an avid follower and recently learned of her exciting new updates to the “Red Tea” way of detoxing the body. This is my personal review. What is the Red Tea Detox? Upon watching the formal presentation video by Liz Swann Miller, you’ll see that the video is quite amazing. Of course, any time someone is essentially selling you something, it’ll be played up quite a bit, but hey, I can’t fault people for executing their marketing plans to a science.
The takeaway is that this detox diet accelerates fat loss utilizing a very unique red tea recipe. In the video, she tells you exactly how to go about making the tea. Of course, you have to make it yourself, but for me, there was a sense of “hey I did it!
” to the equation, which is always self-fulfilling. You will also learn what you can eat, as well as foods to avoid while you are consuming the red tea detox drink. Exercise is optional, and a routine is given that takes just 20-30 minutes per day. I continued with my normal Orange Theory Fitness, Spinning, and Pilates classes - but that’s just my life - detox or no detox!
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