Written by Charles Amith

The Atkins Nutritional approach has been used nationally since the 1960’s. Long before Dr. Robert Atkins published his popular low-carbohydrate diet plan, his patients were reaping the benefits of the Atkins diet. Dr. Atkins divided his meal plan into four phases. “Induction,” phase one, is designed to force the body into ketosis, a physical condition which occurs in response to starvation. The “ketogenic” diet is widely used in medicine not only to treat obesity, but also to treat conditions such as epilepsy and diabetes. During this particular two-week period, no alcohol or caffeine can be consumed. The second phase, “Ongoing Weight Loss,” is geared toward finding the “Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing.” This process involves increasing the carb intake by five grams per week until the subject a person is within 10 pounds of their target weight. “Pre-maintenance” is the next step. Like phase two, this phase calls for an increase in carb intake, the difference between the two phases being that this phase is designed to find the “Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance.” Step four is “Lifetime Maintenance,” a phase intended to reinforce the habits learned through the diet plan so as not to regain the weight lost during the diet. Dr. Atkins also emphasizes making use of the option to jump back to any of the other phases if weight begins to return. While many testimonials of success have been recorded, the Atkins diet has been under fire in recent years as more and more analysis is conducted. Recent studies have compared Atkins to other diet plans and found that it scores among the highest for short-term weight loss but ranks as the lowest for long-term weight loss. And after Atkins Nutrionals released their line of Atkins diet bars and meals, Forbes Magazine analyzed several diets and found that the average consumer would pay up to 80%25 more in food costs than people not on the diet. Even when faced with these facts, many still sing praises of the Atkins diet. Both the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Medicine confirmed that Atkins is still the most effective published diet plan for short-term weight loss. They do, however, acknowledge that it does come at greater risk for coronary heart disease. As for weighing out the pros and cons to determine exactly how much more at risk those who participate in the Atkins diet are, all reports found that no evidence documented has yet to prove that the risks are greater than the benefits. Nearly forty years later, the late Dr. Atkins is still recognized for his approach to weight loss. Thanks to the innovation of the internet, Atkins meal plans, Atkins diet bars, Atkins recipes, magazine articles and research regarding Atkins and virtually anything else associated with the Atkins diet has never been easier to access.

Charles Amith is a successful Webmaster and publisher of http://LowCarbDietSolutions.com. Charles provides informative content on weight loss, as well as more information on the Atkins Diet.

Written by Nicky Pilkington

The Atkins Diet was a dieting model adapted by Dr. Robert Atkins from earlier works in the 1960’s. The basis for the diet is low intake of certain carbohydrates and high intake of proteins and saturated fats. The diet was recently updated and named The Atkins Diet Revolution and has become very popular due to the celebrity endorsement it has received, especially amongst Hollywood stars.

How does the Diet work?

Many people who go on the usually fad and fashionable diets, particularly the obese, struggle with food cravings and find it too difficult to simply eat less. The Atkins Diet offered itself as a win-win alternative to people who struggle to eat less by allowing them to consume enough volumes of food to fulfil their cravings, whilst still losing weight. As a person loses weight, naturally their stomach shrinks thus they begin consuming less as a result.

Glucose (blood sugar) is the body’s main energy source, and is derived mainly from carbohydrates. Glucose which isn’t burned off through exercise is stored as fat. By lowering carbohydrate intake, this forces the body’s metabolism to speed up and as it still needs glucose it begins refining much of the glucose from the body’s fat storage, thus causing a person to lose weight. This process is at its most rigorous during the induction phase of the diet.

Eating enough protein is essential to the Atkins Diet, as protein is a muscle building and maintaining nutrient. Without enough protein the body’s metabolism will not only eat the body’s fats, but also begin to eat away the body’s muscle mass, which isn’t good.

Important points regarding the Atkins Diet

- The Atkins Diet may be used to lose weight initially and maintain weight loss, or simply to lose weight in the beginning before switching to another regime such as plenty of exercise and a different diet.

- It isn’t an excuse to continue to eat excessively and shirk from exercise. Both gradually eating less and taking plenty of exercise are encouraged.

- Advocates of the Atkins Diet believe saturated fats aren’t the biggest threat to health, but trans-fats are.

- Having a lowered carbohydrate intake dramatically reduces coronary issues and lowers blood pressure.

There are many opinions regarding the Atkins Diet (or any diet, for that matter), therefore to make an informed decision, consult your G.P. for their advice before embarking on the Atkins Diet or any other diet.

None of the information contained in this article is designed or intended to replace professional medical from a doctor.

Detailed information about the atkins diet can be found at http://www.atkins-diet.org.uk

Written by Oliver Turner

Obesity is the main reason for many diseases like cardiovascular problems, diabetes, depression, and sleep apnea. The only way out of this problem is to follow a strict and healthy diet. But that doesn’t mean avoiding food altogether for that it is not at all a good option since it would deprive our body of essential nutrients. Hence a controlled carbohydrate diet is advised for carbohydrate is mostly responsible for increasing one’s body weight. The low carbohydrate Atkins Diet was first introduced in 1970’s by Dr. Robert Atkins. But it became popular almost 10 years later after the release of his book - ‘Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution’ which went one to become one of the bestsellers of that decade. In no time, millions of people in the United States and abroad began to follow Atkins diet specifications as their first diet choice. What is Atkins Diet? Atkins Diet is a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. It promotes using meat, eggs, and cheese while discouraging high carbohydrate-content foods such as bread and rice. If excess carbohydrates are taken in, excess enzymes should be generated to digest it. This may lead to disintegration of pancreatic cells in a long run, which may further lead to diabetes. According to Robert Atkins, on having a low carbohydrate diet, our body will enter into a state of ketosis, in which, instead of carbohydrates, fat is digested to release energy. This reduces the need for more insulin produced by the pancreatic cells and the fat deposits are subsided. Thus, the body weight is reduced to a considerable amount. Advantages of Atkins Diet: 1. Considerable amount of body weight is reduced by the burning of fats which is the secondary source of energy. 2. Inter-meal diets could be avoided since you won’t be hungry between meals. 3. Could maintain constant blood sugar level. 4. Since most of the toxins contained in our body are removed along with the burning of fats, overall heath is improved. Things to Note: 1. It is recommended to consult a doctor or physician before trying out Atkins diet meal plans. 2. Daily exercise is highly recommended along with Atkins diet foods. 3. People with kidney disorders, pregnancy, and diabetes are advised not to follow Atkins diet meal plans. Phases of Atkins Diet: 1. Induction - In this phase, which includes first 14 days of the diet, it is said that you will lose up to 15 pounds of your body weight. During this time, the amount of carbohydrates consumed per day will be less than 20 grams. The only carbohydrates included in your Atkins diet recipes will be low carbohydrate-content vegetables like tomato. 2. Ongoing Weight Loss - During this second stage, the consumption of carbohydrates is raised up to 5 grams per day. 3. Pre-maintenance - During this stage of Atkins diet meal plans, the rate of fall of body weight will be slower. Also, you can experiment various other foods to see whether they add your body weight or not. If found safe, you could add it to your Atkins diet food products. 4. Maintenance - You enter this phase when you find that you have reduced the body weight to the desired level. Also you could add some more carbohydrates to your diet which do not raise your body weight, like full wheat bread. Tail Piece: The ultimate result of Atkins diet program (other diet programs as well) depends solely on how well the person follows the recommendations. Hence make sure that you follow it religiously.

We offer the best Atkins Diet source. Check it out only on the http://www.911dietplans.com/data.asp?cid=2 . Find all about diets on http://www.911dietplans.com .

Written by Jason Hulott

In the ’80s we had the ‘F-plan’, in the Noughties, we’ve got the Atkins diet. Devotees to the Atkins plan claim to shed their unwanted pounds quickly and easily while still being able to tuck into ‘fry-ups’, while those whose tried it and fallen ‘off the wagon’ report feeding ill and hungry throughout it.

Love it or hate it, the Atkins diet has actually been around longer than you may think. Developed in the early ’70s by the late Robert C. Atkins, M.D. (who was reportedly over weight when he died), his book - “Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution” - introduced the Atkins Diet to the world.

Atkins’ theory is that the way your body processes the carbohydrates you eat — not how much fat you eat — that causes you to gain weight. By lowering your carbohydrate input, and eating high protein food, your body should enter a state of Ketosis. This is where your body burns fat as fuel.

The diet has four stages, the first 14 days of which are very strict indeed. You gradually re-introduce food but opting for a healthier option - eg eating whole wheat bread instead of white.

The Atkins Diet may be suitable for you if you like to eat a lot of meat, as bacon and eggs form a big part of the ‘acceptable’ diet, while in the first few weeks, pasta, alcohol, certain vegetables and other carbohydrate-rich foods are banned.

There is a list of acceptable foods, which you are not allowed to stray from - not even one chip! - so if you find to hard to follow ‘rules’, you may find the Atkins diet heavy going.

http://www.uk-diets-online.co.uk provides information about all the major diet systems available. Download as FREE copy of the Tasty Weight Loss and Muscle Building Recipes Book, a 33 page book which you can download for free to get some ideas for weight loss recipes.

Written by Scott Nichols

Hard to believe that a diet that has been around since 1972 is still such a hot topic. Of course, a diet that advocates eating high protein, high fat food while cutting out most of the carbohydrates is a popular diet of choice today. Although it has come under some scrutiny over the last couple of years, one thing is for certain - this diet can lead to serious weight loss!

Jumping forward from 1972, Dr. Atkins published three books on his diet plans between 1992 and 2002. He has also published several companion books, like cookbooks, journals and various specialized dieting books. Using these books and his diet plan, a great amount of weight loss success has been achieved by numerous dieters.

Over the last few years, Dr. Atkins’ diet has not only been popular in homes, but in restaurants and grocery stores, as well. Many restaurants are now featuring an “Atkins” option, or low-carb selections based on his or other similar diet plans. Atkins Advantage is a company that is creating and distributing nutritional bars, shakes and other goods based on the Atkins diet in grocery stores, pharmacies and discount outlets nationwide.

One of the main draws of the Atkins diet is the fact that when you follow it, counting calories is not something that is required. No funny charts are used and no journal has to be kept (unless you choose to). You also don’t have to watch “portions” when you are on the Atkins diet. You can eat as much of certain types of food as you want, when you want, without worry. This leads to another of the pros of the diet - serious weight loss!

Another thing that attracts people to the Atkins diet is the fact that you can eat as much meat, cheese and eggs as you like. High fat, high cholesterol foods are not a “no-no” with the Atkins diet. As anyone who has been on a diet knows, you have to give up something when you choose to follow any kind of plan. This plan allows you to keep eating as much protein rich foods as you want.

One of the main complaints about the Atkins diet is its strict limitation of carbohydrates, which includes basic foods like bread, pasta, rice and even fruits. You can up your intake of eggs, cheese and any type of meat, but you have to practically eliminate any processed flours and sugars from your daily food intake. Some say even this is not that big of a problem in an age where artificial sweeteners can allow you those guilty pleasures, like ice cream. Also, if you stick with the diet long enough, those craving for carbs will not be as strong and easily managed. However, if you cheat and eat carbs occasionally to stop those cravings, they will come back stronger and stronger.

This diet has been criticized by others in the medical community, which might be seen as another drawback to the diet. It does not conform to the American Heart Association’s guidelines for a healthy heart due to its high levels of cholesterol and fatty foods. Other medical professionals also state that due to this diet’s low levels of dietary fiber, it can lead to constipation and bowel problems. It can also lead to high levels of uric acid and ketones in the body, since it is burning fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. These high levels can lead to problems with the kidneys and headaches.

Truthfully, if you are finding success with this diet, it could be the correct diet for you. However, if you are experiencing health problems or are not satisfied on this diet, it probably is not. As with other diets, the dropout rate of those who start the Atkins diet is high…so it obviously isn’t the best thing since “sliced bread”!

This article was created by Article Authors,
a unique web content firm, for E-healthcenter

Written by Tony Robinson

Over the years, one of the most effective ways to lose weight has been high-protein eating. Lately, it has been popularized by diets such as Atkins and The Zone, but it’s actually a much older approach to weight loss, having been around for at least twenty years or more.

High protein eating is a bit controversial, because some critics claim that it can be too high in saturated fat and cholesterol. This can be true, depending on how you approach the program. It is possible to lose weight on Atkins even if you eat a lot of bacon, butter and eggs, but if there’s a history of heart disease in your family, that’s not advisable. The standard Atkins diet is not nearly as high in fat - it stresses healthier sources or protein such as chicken or fish.

A high protein diet limits your consumption of carbohydrates, such as bread, rice and pasta. Most of us eat too much of these foods anyway; in fact, some experts argue that some of us are even addicted to them. It’s true that when you get used to eating these foods, it can be hard to give them up. The Atkins diet forces you to do so during the early stages of the diet. In fact, even fruits and vegetables are limited. In the later stages of following the diet, fruits and vegetables are added back in, so you don’t end up deprived of vitamins and minerals. Another frequent criticism of the Atkins diet is that it deprives you of fruits and vegetables (which everyone agrees are healthy), but this just isn’t true in the long term.

Why does eating a high protein, low carbohydrate diet make you lose weight? The reasons are complex, and related to individual body chemistry. The fact is that eating a lot of processed carbohydrates is a big problem for many of us, because they raise the body’s glycemic index. Cutting out or limiting carbohydrates reverses this process, switching your body in a different gear - it turns into a fat-burning machine. The fact is that the high protein approach is one way in which many people have lost large amounts of weight. Some of these are individuals who have been unable to lose weight using any other diet or weight loss program.

The Zone is a gentler approach to high protein eating, but it is based on the same principle. Unlike Atkins, the Zone allows you to eat a balanced diet of protein and ‘good’ carbohydrates at every stage. Like Atkins, it limits or eliminates processed carbohydrates such as bread, pasta and baked goods. Over time, the Zone is probably as effective as Atkins, though Atkins can have some rapid, spectacular results when you first start following the diet.

Both of these approaches to weight loss should be lifelong changes, rather than diets that you ‘go on’ for a short period of time. Atkins has a ‘maintenance’ phase that allows you to eat a balanced diet, but maintain the eating habits that you have learned so that you don’t gain the weight back. Some experts recommend that if you start to notice your eating habits slipping and pounds creeping back on, you should go back to the first stages of Atkins for a while, and a eat a more restricted diet until you get back on track. Most experts encourage you to forget the old-fashioned idea of ‘going on a diet’ for a short period of time, and then going back to your old habits. That usually doesn’t work in the long term.

Exercise is also a very important part of this and any weight loss program. You can do any type of exercise you like. The best thing seems to be walking, if you do enough of it. In fact, walking for an hour every day might be a better way to lose weight than running two or three times a week. If you make exercise a part of your life, day in and day out, you have the best chances of controlling your weight for a lifetime.

High protein eating plans are not for everyone, but the fact is that they have worked for thousands of people in the past, even those with extreme or stubborn weight problems. Try Atkins or the Zone, or read about them online, to learn the basics and decide whether this diet is for you.

As a Teacher of Sport and Physical Education, Tony Robinson has a keen interest in Health and Weight Loss issues.
For handy hints and tips for weight loss visit http://www.weight-loss-arena.com

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