The Atkins Diet a Nutrition Project
Everyone wants a quick fix, an express checkout, a shortcut to work, or instant messaging. It's the same thing with dieting. When someone decides to lose weight, they want to do it quickly.
A high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, such as the Atkins Diet Nutrition Project devised by Dr. Robert Atkins, is a popular "fad" diet that has been successful at quick weight loss. The strengths of this diet, a "jump start" to the metabolism, unlimited portions, and quick weight loss, are the exact things that constitute its weaknesses.
The diet focuses on consuming very limited amounts of the types of carbohydrates that are inclined to spike blood sugar levels, including non-whole grain bread, pastas, refined sugar products, juices, and high sugar/starchy fruits and vegetables. Atkins loyalists are taught to identify their personal sensitivity to these carbohydrates as a way to manage their weight.
Fad diets are usually not successful. We all remember when Oprah Winfrey, the famous talk show host, went on a liquid diet and quickly lost more than 50 pounds. However, when she stopped the diet, those pounds packed right back on-in front of the tearful eyes of millions of loyal viewers.
"Quick fixes lead to quick failures," says Crystal Whitten, a registered dietician from the Loma Linda University Department of Nutrition in Loma Linda, California. "Body weight is subject to the laws of nature. One cannot fool mother nature. Losing weight does not guarantee success. However, people constantly choose to participate in weight loss programs that almost always are more harmful than helpful, because weight loss is not purely fat loss."
Whitten further explains, "Weight loss is a combination of fat and muscle loss. It is the loss of muscle that mitigates long-term success. Even if someone is participating in a weight-training program during weight loss, there will be some loss of muscle mass. It is the muscle mass that is the primary determinant of one's metabolism. As muscle size is lost, one's metabolism drops."
The Atkins diet promises to "jump start" the body's metabolism to achieve rapid weight loss through a process called ketosis. People feel safe in believing this is a good thing because a doctor endorses the diet. However, ketosis is an abnormal body process that occurs during starvation due to lack of carbohydrates.
Ketosis is the increased production of blood ketones, which suppresses hunger. Carbohydrates feed fat in the body. Ketosis can cause fatigue, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Potential long-term side effects of ketosis include heart disease, bone loss, and kidney damage (American Dietetic Association, Fad Diets, 2000). Even Atkins warns that people with kidney problems should not try this diet. Ketosis may also damage LDL (bad) cholesterol, making it more likely to stick to artery walls and increasing the risk of a heart attack.
The Atkins diet is a favored one, especially among men, because it allows the dieter to eat as much fat and protein as they want as long as they consume very few carbohydrates. The diet doesn't limit the amount of saturated-fat products one can have each day. In fact, unlimited portions of foods like butter, red meat and bacon are encouraged.
The Atkins plan contradicts many studies that have proven a strong link between diets high in saturated fat and increased risk for heart disease. Excessive animal protein dramatically increases the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, and many other illnesses. In the short run, it may also cause kidney problems and a loss of calcium in the bones.
The plan allows consumption of foods that many dieters have only dreamed about! Followers therefore never go hungry and never have to deprive themselves. However, drastically cutting back on a major food group may help lose weight in the short run, but experts say that the success is mainly because people lower their total calorie intake, even though the diet denies it's not specifically based on calorie reduction.
In the long run, it is doomed to failure because people can't stick with it for very long. Eventually, cravings pop up for pasta, bread, and other starches and they give up on the diet. Then, the weight (and more) comes back.
Many people are initially impressed by the Atkins plan because of the rapid weight loss from the start. However, the weight loss isn't coming from body fat, it's coming from water. The body's preferred energy source is glucose and when carbohydrate intake is cut back, the body is lacking in its constant supply of glucose (the breakdown product of carbohydrate).
However, the body is smart and anticipates these situations by storing emergency glucose, known as glycogen, in the muscles and liver. For every one gram of glycogen the body stores, it must also store three grams of water. So if carbohydrate intake is significantly limited, the body will begin to break down these glycogen stores to get the glucose for energy.
Then stored water (and lots of it) gets released and excreted when the glycogen gets broken down (Chase Freedom, Atkins). This tricks a person into thinking they've had a big weight loss. Unfortunately, it is not a loss of fat.
The Atkins diet is based on the idea that carbohydrates are bad, that many people are "allergic" to them or are insulin-resistant, and therefore gain weight when they eat them. The truth is that people are eating more total calories and getting less physical activity, and that is the real reason they gained weight (ADA). The Atkins diet is an extremely low carbohydrate diet and is probably the severest diet when it comes to low carbohydrate consumption. By restricting carbohydrate intake, the body must eventually turn to fat stores for energy instead of the quick energy that is normally produced by carbohydrates. As long as the person remains on the diet, they will lose weight and keep it off.
However, if they reach their goal weight, and start eating spaghetti, pizza, bread or any other carbohydrate, they will gain back the weight, and usually gain back more than they lost.
For More Helpful Weight Loss Articles Click this link [http://lifestylehelp.health.officelive.com/weightlossarticlelist.aspx]
Leave a Comment on this Article Click Here [http://lifestylehelp.health.officelive.com/contactus.aspx]
SlimQuick2day. The Amazing Way To Lose Weight in 30 Minutes a Day, Which is Sweeping America. NO PILLS.. NO DIETS..NO EXERCISING. SlimQuick2day, the CD audio slimming sensation that is sweeping the USA is being launched in the UK today.
A high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, such as the Atkins Diet Nutrition Project devised by Dr. Robert Atkins, is a popular "fad" diet that has been successful at quick weight loss. The strengths of this diet, a "jump start" to the metabolism, unlimited portions, and quick weight loss, are the exact things that constitute its weaknesses.
The diet focuses on consuming very limited amounts of the types of carbohydrates that are inclined to spike blood sugar levels, including non-whole grain bread, pastas, refined sugar products, juices, and high sugar/starchy fruits and vegetables. Atkins loyalists are taught to identify their personal sensitivity to these carbohydrates as a way to manage their weight.
Fad diets are usually not successful. We all remember when Oprah Winfrey, the famous talk show host, went on a liquid diet and quickly lost more than 50 pounds. However, when she stopped the diet, those pounds packed right back on-in front of the tearful eyes of millions of loyal viewers.
"Quick fixes lead to quick failures," says Crystal Whitten, a registered dietician from the Loma Linda University Department of Nutrition in Loma Linda, California. "Body weight is subject to the laws of nature. One cannot fool mother nature. Losing weight does not guarantee success. However, people constantly choose to participate in weight loss programs that almost always are more harmful than helpful, because weight loss is not purely fat loss."
Whitten further explains, "Weight loss is a combination of fat and muscle loss. It is the loss of muscle that mitigates long-term success. Even if someone is participating in a weight-training program during weight loss, there will be some loss of muscle mass. It is the muscle mass that is the primary determinant of one's metabolism. As muscle size is lost, one's metabolism drops."
The Atkins diet promises to "jump start" the body's metabolism to achieve rapid weight loss through a process called ketosis. People feel safe in believing this is a good thing because a doctor endorses the diet. However, ketosis is an abnormal body process that occurs during starvation due to lack of carbohydrates.
Ketosis is the increased production of blood ketones, which suppresses hunger. Carbohydrates feed fat in the body. Ketosis can cause fatigue, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Potential long-term side effects of ketosis include heart disease, bone loss, and kidney damage (American Dietetic Association, Fad Diets, 2000). Even Atkins warns that people with kidney problems should not try this diet. Ketosis may also damage LDL (bad) cholesterol, making it more likely to stick to artery walls and increasing the risk of a heart attack.
The Atkins diet is a favored one, especially among men, because it allows the dieter to eat as much fat and protein as they want as long as they consume very few carbohydrates. The diet doesn't limit the amount of saturated-fat products one can have each day. In fact, unlimited portions of foods like butter, red meat and bacon are encouraged.
The Atkins plan contradicts many studies that have proven a strong link between diets high in saturated fat and increased risk for heart disease. Excessive animal protein dramatically increases the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, and many other illnesses. In the short run, it may also cause kidney problems and a loss of calcium in the bones.
The plan allows consumption of foods that many dieters have only dreamed about! Followers therefore never go hungry and never have to deprive themselves. However, drastically cutting back on a major food group may help lose weight in the short run, but experts say that the success is mainly because people lower their total calorie intake, even though the diet denies it's not specifically based on calorie reduction.
In the long run, it is doomed to failure because people can't stick with it for very long. Eventually, cravings pop up for pasta, bread, and other starches and they give up on the diet. Then, the weight (and more) comes back.
Many people are initially impressed by the Atkins plan because of the rapid weight loss from the start. However, the weight loss isn't coming from body fat, it's coming from water. The body's preferred energy source is glucose and when carbohydrate intake is cut back, the body is lacking in its constant supply of glucose (the breakdown product of carbohydrate).
However, the body is smart and anticipates these situations by storing emergency glucose, known as glycogen, in the muscles and liver. For every one gram of glycogen the body stores, it must also store three grams of water. So if carbohydrate intake is significantly limited, the body will begin to break down these glycogen stores to get the glucose for energy.
Then stored water (and lots of it) gets released and excreted when the glycogen gets broken down (Chase Freedom, Atkins). This tricks a person into thinking they've had a big weight loss. Unfortunately, it is not a loss of fat.
The Atkins diet is based on the idea that carbohydrates are bad, that many people are "allergic" to them or are insulin-resistant, and therefore gain weight when they eat them. The truth is that people are eating more total calories and getting less physical activity, and that is the real reason they gained weight (ADA). The Atkins diet is an extremely low carbohydrate diet and is probably the severest diet when it comes to low carbohydrate consumption. By restricting carbohydrate intake, the body must eventually turn to fat stores for energy instead of the quick energy that is normally produced by carbohydrates. As long as the person remains on the diet, they will lose weight and keep it off.
However, if they reach their goal weight, and start eating spaghetti, pizza, bread or any other carbohydrate, they will gain back the weight, and usually gain back more than they lost.
For More Helpful Weight Loss Articles Click this link [http://lifestylehelp.health.officelive.com/weightlossarticlelist.aspx]
Leave a Comment on this Article Click Here [http://lifestylehelp.health.officelive.com/contactus.aspx]
SlimQuick2day. The Amazing Way To Lose Weight in 30 Minutes a Day, Which is Sweeping America. NO PILLS.. NO DIETS..NO EXERCISING. SlimQuick2day, the CD audio slimming sensation that is sweeping the USA is being launched in the UK today.
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