Friday, September 01, 2006
TOP DIET AND WEIGHT LOSS REVIEW
Atkins Diet
Atkins Diet
Steak with Béarnaise sauce, eggs, and bacon; cheddar cheese omelets -- don't hold the yolks; Roquefort dressing and silky smooth avocado cream soup made with real cream? These rich foods are allowed as part of the controversial diet described in Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, a phenomenal best seller, and several follow-up books.
The Atkins diet promises that not only will you lose weight -- and not be hungry -- with a low-carbohydrate diet, but you'll also be on the road to better heart health and memory function, as well
as other wellness benefits.
The diet is based on the theory that overweight people eat too many carbohydrates. Our bodies burn both fat and carbohydrates for energy, but carbs are used first. By drastically reducing carbs and eating more protein and fat, our bodies naturally lose weight by burning stored body fat more efficiently.
Although it's undoubtedly the weight-loss claims -- and noted success stories -- that are selling the books, the Center for Complementary Medicine in New York (which Atkins founded) claims that most people follow the Atkins diet for weight maintenance, good health, and disease prevention
The Atkins Diet was launched in the 70's when Dr. Atkins published the New Diet Revolution. Atkins spoke up against the medical establishment and told us of the effects of sugar and carbs in foods, and how managing your intake of carbs would lead to weight loss.
The two week induction phase of the Atkins Diet, is the strictest phase of the diet, where only pure proteins are allowed, and a very limited amount of carbs. The proteins allowed include meat, fish, poultry, and eggs, an pure fats such as olive oil, butter, and mayonnaise.
Only 20 grams of carbohydrates per day are allowed during this period, via vegetables such as broccoli, salad, and asparagus. No bread, grains, starchy vegetables or fruit should be eaten during this phase.
The dieter then moves through two more phases, slowly building their carbohydrate intake, until they know how much can be eaten without putting on weight - and moves into the Life time maintenance phase.
