Basics of the Atkins Diet

Nowadays, the Atkins Nutritional Approach or more known as the Atkins diet is increasingly getting popular. Although there are many different low carbohydrate diet programs being disseminated today, the Atkins diet still receive the most recommendations both from experts and users. Let us learn more about the tips and basics of Atkins diet at we go along this article.

Dr.Robert Atkins developed Atkins Diet during the 60s. This diet program was a result of his new nutritional approach that time where his base was at the Journal of the American Medical Association. Initially, Dr. Atkins had used the diet program to himself before he started promoting it to other people. He became successful in using his own diet program and afterwards began writing series of books related to it. The company of Atkins Nutritionals was established by Dr.Atkins in 1989 in Ronkonkoma, New York. However, the initial success of the company was not sustainable; hence, he filed for bankruptcy in the middle of 2005. The bankruptcy happened after the death of Dr.Atkins in 2003. He died due to fatal injury in his head.

Instead of eliminating the saturated fats from a person’s diet, Atkins Diet focuses on the so-called trans fat, which can be found on dairy and meat products, and even occur on side products of industrial food processing. Trans fats do not have nutritional value and act as major source of coronary heart disease. Another fact about Atkins diet is it also removes refined carbohydrates from the person’s diet such as high-fructose corn syrups, flour, and sugar.

Tips and Basics of the Atkins Diet

Atkins diet restricts the carbohydrates consumption in a way that results the body to burn stored fats rather than its energy-source glucose. This process is known as ketosis wherein the liver starts to convert fats into fatty acids. Once converted, the body can use it for energy. Atkins diet also regulates the carbohydrates affecting the levels of blood sugar. It supports the entire unprocessed foods that do not affect the levels of blood sugar in unpleasant manner.

There are four distinct phases of Atkins diet namely the induction phase, the weight loss phase, the pre-maintenance phase, and the lifetime maintenance phase. In induction phase, an individual consumes carbohydrates of 20 net grams everyday in order to achieve the ketosis state. During this phase, the individual is expected to lose up to 3-4 kilograms. The next phase ongoing phase is the weight loss phase wherein an individual will increase intake of carbohydrates but will stay at level in order to encourage more weight loss. The individual must increase of up to five net grams of carbohydrates every week.

In pre-maintenance phase, the individual will increase intake of carbohydrate by 10 net grams every week until it reaches the so-called “critical carbohydrate level” for maintenance. With this level, the individual will maintain his or her current intake of carbohydrate and continue to lose weight. For the lifetime maintenance phase, the individual continues his or her dietary habits achieved from the first three phases. In case the individual finds difficulties in maintaining this last phase, there is temporary reversion to former phase offered by Atkins diet.