Atkins nutritional approach

Atkins Nutritional Approach, also known as the Atkins diet, is a special diet regiment based on low carbohydrate intake. The diet is named after Dr. Robert Atkins who popularized the method that actually resolved his own problems with weight. The principles of this diet plan are revealed in the book Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, published in 1972, but the Atkins Nutritional Approach gained widespread popularity in the 2003 and 2004. Following the popularity of this diet, many successful food companies have also issued special product lines that were low in carbohydrates.

Basic principles of the Atkins Nutritional Approach

The Atkins diet is based on the theory that most of the problems with weight come from bad eating habits that involve eating too much food saturated with carbohydrates. Since the body uses carbohydrates to create energy, there is no need for the body to waste its own fat storage if the amount of carbohydrates in the diet is above optimum. The body naturally regulates weight by burning stored fat, but in this process carbohydrates are burnt first. By restricting the carbohydrates intake, the body goes into the state of ketosis, where it burns its own fat to produce energy. As an additional effect, the person feels less hungry and doesn’t feel the need to eat as much as he or she normally would. As the body’s own fat storage becomes the main source of energy, the individual gets closer and closer to the final result, which is a weight loss.

Atkins Nutritional Approach Plan

This diet reduces the amount of carbohydrates and limits the intake of certain foods such as refined sugar, milk, white rice, or white flour. However, a person is allowed to eat rich foods that are low in carbohydrates. For example, this diet allows meat, cheese, eggs and everything else that primarily consists of protein and fat. In other words, there is no need to eat only low-fat cheese or lean meats since everything except carbohydrates is allowed and recommended. This includes even butter, mayonnaise and various natural oils.

The Most Important Rule of Atkins Diet

The restrictive rules of the diet demand that only about 20 grams of pure carbohydrates (minus fiber) need to be included in the diet, in the first two weeks. This is the most important rule and there is no exception to it. The first two weeks of the diet are crucial since they have to trigger various biochemical events in the body and allow the body to enter into the state of ketosis. In the later phases of diet, people are allowed to eat fiber rich foods but they still need to avoid sugar, milk, white rice, white flour, potatoes and pasta.