Controversy of the Atkins Diet

In order to lose weight, one is ready to try out any diet which previously proved to be successful with any other individual. On such diet is the Atkins diet which is believed to help shed extra pounds in individuals who had much more weight on them than they would have liked.

How Does Atkins Diet Help In Reducing Weight

After following the Atkins diet for a while, people have found that they can lose weight easily. The Atkins Diet, basically being a high protein and low carbohydrate diet denies one of the causes of excessive weight gain.

Reducing carbohydrate has been known to reduce the calories in ones body, thereby producing weight loss. Though many argue against this action, many still prefer low carbohydrate diets. Regarding the controversy, tests have been carried out in order to determine the real capability and benefits of the diet.

In separate studies subjects were provided high protein and low carbohydrate or low fat levels. The subjects were obese patients and were thought to be the ideal candidates for this experiment. These patients were observed over time and the recordings were made at regular intervals.

The reason why these experiments were conducted was to determine how effective a diet that was high in protein intake but low in fat or carbohydrate could be. According to a theory, it is suggested that a major portion of one’s food substance should be carbohydrate. This is because it is from carbohydrate that one gets all the energy required to carry out vital processes.  This is opposed to the view that carbohydrates are the main cause of weight gain.

Controversy of the Atkins Diet

However, according to the studies carried out with obese people, it is said that the Atkins Diet is successfully helps people in reducing weight. The weight loss that was reported was significant in both types of cases; patients that had low carbohydrates and low fats. However, the patients who had low carbohydrates were more successful with almost double weight loss as those who had low fats. However, it was here that the controversy stuck.

The high protein level was maintained in both types of patients. No doubt, the lower levels of carbohydrates in a diet are more successful along with a high intake of protein, but the problem is safety of the diet in the long run. Using this type of diet for a short span of time is fine, but to consider using it for extended periods may be risky.

This is because of the fact that using it on a long term basis could well mean denying one’s body of nutrition. The reason why a person’s body can be denied of nutrition in this way is because of the fact that it is not in sync with the food pyramid.

According to the food pyramid, food substances are balanced and it is these proportions that need to be followed for a healthy life. However, it can be noticed that in Atkins diet, the food pyramid is not being taken into consideration and this can prove to be risky the long run. As one’s body progresses through time with a diet, the balance of nutrition in the body changes significantly, and the results of this deprivation can cause improper functions of certain body processes.

Undoubtedly the Atkins Diet is believed to be one of the best diets to follow in order to achieve weight loss. Following it on a short term basis it is very well, but one should not use it for long term because the possible repercussions have not been determined as yet.