As long as most of us are obsessed with losing weight, diets and fads will come and go. One diet that stayed for a long time in public awareness is known as the Atkins Diet. It’s popularity has shrunk but there are still legions of loyalists. There are critics as well, but nobody can deny the fact that it had a huge impact on the diet industry.
Dr Robert Atkins adapted this high protein, low carbohydrate diet from a medical journal he read in the 1960′s. Trying it out on himself first, he found that he lost weight easily. His next step was to prescribe the diet to thousands of his patients. After that he unleashed it upon the world in 1972 with his book, Dr Atkins’ Diet Revolution, followed with a revised edition, Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, a while later. With the publication of his books, the Atkins Diet became, virtually, a household term.
The Theory
Dr Atkins based his theory on the assumption that obesity is primarily caused by eating excess amounts of refined carbohydrates, the worst culprits being: sugar, flour and high fructose products. In his books he states that other diets focus on the consumption of saturated fats but the real problem is with trans fats alone.
The regimen of the Atkins Diet is a strict one, which recommends precise portions of carbohydrates, which increase at points with the progression of the diet. The result was a drop in sales of pasta and rice. Dr Atkins’ sound, and now considered obvious, advice was that eating mostly unprocessed, whole foods was the healthiest choice.
The Opposition
There are nutritionists that have an issue with these claims, believing that the diet can provide short-term success but does not result in long-term weight loss. Some doctors take this a step further and reason that low carbohydrate, high protein diets can cause heart disease. Also, there were complaints that the diet is expensive and has disagreeable side effects, such as bad breath, lethargy, diarrhea and cramping.
Atkins Nutritionals was formed by Dr Atkins in 1989 and entered bankruptcy in 2005, but continues today with Atkins Diet food brands. Unfortunately, the longevity of his health was not tested, as the good Doctor died in an accident in 2003, when he slipped on the ice.
Your Opinion
Now that you’ve got the history, I’d like to hear about your success, failure or ideas on the Atkins Diet. Leave a comment or, become a member of this site and write your own article on Atkins diet, products or any diet related subject.
2 responses so far ↓
1 HEalth and MEdical BLog // Apr 3, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Useful information. Thanks for sharing
2 Maria - Slim Ice // Dec 11, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I did the Atkins diet and it worked great. I loved it at the time. Remember to slowly add carbs as you go.
Leave a Comment