Defintion
Dr. Robert
C. Atkins received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical School in
1955 and went on to specialize first in internal medicine and then in
cardiology. In 1963 he first tried a low-carbohydrate diet after reading about
one in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Atkins later recounted
that he lost weight so easily on the diet that he converted his fledgling
cardiology practice into an weight-loss clinic. Aside from popularizing the
diet associated now with his name, Dr. Atkins "championed the natural
healing arts as a safe and effective alternative to pharmaceutical drugs and
surgery for many debilitating illnesses." He believed that ozone gas can
kill cancer cells and HIV and therefore treated many patients with ozone. Dr.
Atkins died accidentally.
On his way to work in New York City on April 8, 2003 he
slipped on a patch of sidewalk ice and struck his head . He never regained
consciousness and died on April 17 at age 72.
Atkins
diet: A high-protein, high-fat, low-carbohydrate weight-loss diet popularized
by Dr. Robert C. Atkins that allows for unrestricted amounts of meat, cheese
and eggs while severely restricting carbohydrates, including sugar, bread,
pasta, milk, fruits and vegetables.
The Atkins diet is based on the theory that
eating carbohydrates stimulates the production of insulin, which in turn leads
to hunger, eating, and weight gain. The theory is that people on the Atkins
diet experience reduced appetite and their bodies use stored fat for energy
versus burning glucose from ingested carbohydrate. Burning fat for energy is
supposedly lead to weight loss.
On the
positive side of the ledger, people on the Atkins diet usually like eating the
high amounts of protein foods that may be restricted on other diets. Those who
have been unsuccessful on other low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets often lose
weight on the Atkins diet. The diet is easy to follow. No point system, calorie
counting or complicated meal plans are involved.
Induction
The
induction phase is not required, but that doing so jump starts weight loss as
dieters cut back significantly on carbohydrate consumption. According to Atkins
Advantage notes, the induction phase can make people feel revitalized, since
carbohydrates cause blood sugar spikes that lead to fatigue and other symptoms.
The diet also claims that the induction phase will help dieters see the
benefits of fat-burning and strengthen their immune systems.it is
usually when many see the most significant weight loss — reports of losses of 5
to 10 pounds per week are not uncommon when Induction is combined with daily
exercise[citation needed].
Many Atkins followers make use of Ketostix, small
chemically reactive strips used by diabetics, but current recommendations
discourage use due to inaccurate readings. These let the dieter monitor when
they enter the ketosis, or fat burning phase, but are not always accurate for
non-diabetic users. Other indicators of ketosis include a metallic taste in the
mouth, or the sweet smell of ketones on breath or sweat.
Side Effects
According
to Atkins, the diet causes no adverse side effects. Many health care
professionals disagree., Ellen Coleman, a registered dietician and author, said
the diet may have serious side effects for some people.
She said complications
associated with the diet include ketosis, dehydration, electrolyte loss,
calcium depletion, weakness, nausea, and kidney problems. "It is certainly
riskier for overweight individuals with medical problems such as heart disease,
hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes than it is for overweight people
with no health problems," she said.
People with
diabetes taking insulin are at risk of becoming hypoglycemic if they do not eat
appropriate carbohydrates. Also, persons who exercise regularly may experience
low energy levels and muscle fatigue from low carbohydrate intake. cholesterol
levels, and the risks of heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer.
The Atkins
diet limits the amounts of fruits, vegetables, milk and other high-fiber foods
which naturally provide essential vitamins and minerals. Atkins diet followers
may also have difficulty maintaining this diet long term. The problem is taste.
The only way to really satisfy taste without carbohydrate is by increasing fat.
And this is another concern with the Atkins plan. The weight loss with the
Atkins diet occurs predominately through a process called ketosis, and a
majority of it (at least initially) is fluid loss. There have been no long-term
randomized studies to support the safety of this diet.