The lure of “forbidden” food is almost irresistible. Who hasn’t snuck in a late night cheeseburger or a carton of ice cream on a bad day? Imagine a diet that lets you eat as much meat, cream, cheese, and high fat food as you want. There is a diet that eliminates the need for hunger in your quest for the perfect body. Simply eliminating carbohydrates from the diet allows the body to shift energy use from fat creation to rapid fat burning. However, is this miracle fat burning solution actually good for you? Are the pros worth the cons? Let’s find out as we explore the positive and negative sides of one of America’s most popular diets.
The Pros of the Atkins Diet
1 The Atkins Diet is highly popular so not only is this one of the easiest diets to start, support is readily available and easy to access when the going gets tough.
2 Low-carb diets do not introduce as much sugar to the bloodstream. As a result, the Atkins diet can actually allow some patients with Type 2 Diabetes to stop taking their medication and live a more normal life. While the American Diabetic Association does not prescribe this diet, the Atkins Diet does offer an alternate diabetes management program for those who would prefer to live without medication.
3 While most carbohydrates are banned from the Atkins diet, there is still great variety in recipes and general food selection. If properly researched, there is no limit to meal choice options. The popularity of this diet means that there are plenty of recipe books. Some restaurants even offer Atkins-friendly menu items.
4 Good Bye, Bad Carbs! Hello, fast weight loss! The elimination of bad carbs allows the body to focus on using already stored fat instead of creating and storing more fat. As a small bonus, good carbohydrates with lots of fiber are sometimes okay to aid in digestion and bowel movement.
5 Many claim that the Atkins Diet is human nature. Some believe that humans did not start eating grains until 10,000 years ago. They theorize that the human digestive system has not yet evolved to properly utilize grains. Eliminating carbs allows the human digestive system to return to its proper state.
The Cons of Atkins
1 Many participants experience little or no change over the long term. Weight that was lost is quickly regained once the diet is stopped. Often, participants regain more than they lost.
2 When carbohydrates are eliminated from the diet, the human body begins ketosis which converts body fat into energy. Ketosis causes an increase in uric acid and ketones. The end result is an increase in kidney problems, gout, and headaches.
3 The lack of vegetables and grains increases bad cholesterol and is proven to increase the risk of cardiac disease.
4 According to the American Heart Association, the Atkins Diet does not meet their recommended dietary guidelines. Low nutrient intake results in deficiencies that affect overall human health.
5 The lower fiber diet causes severe constipation and often results in chronic bowel disease.
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