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Posts tagged Carbohydrate Intake
Atkins Diet Plan – a Diet Plan With Lowest Carbohydrate Intake
Mar 27th
Searching for a low-carbohydrate diet? Refined carbohydrates are the main cause of obesity, so Atkins developed a diet plan that helps you to loose weight. Sugar, flour, and high fructose corn syrup and saturated fats are the main causes. Atkins diet plan suggest a way to deal with obesity.
According to Atkins diet plan, carbohydrates are restricted in an attempt to control your body’s way of metabolizing foods. This diet plan is mainly based on the fact that, instead of burning glucose, it allows your body to burn fat.
Atkins diet plan is mainly based on consuming high levels of protein and low levels of carbohydrates. It has become a popular weight loss approach for most of us. Atkins diet plan consists of four phases. They include:
• Induction phase
• Ongoing weight loss phase
• Pre-maintenance phase
• Lifetime maintenance phase
Induction phase:
This is the first phase of Atkins diet plan. During this phase, you are allowed to take only 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. You have to avoid caffeine and alcohol completely. Due to this, your body is in the state of ketosis. Ketosis is a phase in which your body burns fats as fuel but not glucose.
During this phase of Atkins diet plan you will lose most weight. Nearly you will lose 6-8 pounds for every week when you are in this phase.
Ongoing weight loss phase:
The objective of this phase is to slowly introduce carbohydrates back into your diet, but you are not allowed to consume a greater amount. You can increase the intake of carbohydrates up to 5 grams.
In this phase of Atkins diet plan, you need to find the critical carbohydrate level that your body requires in order to continue losing weight. The correct level will allow you to eat carbohydrates that won’t affect your weight. This phase continues until you will come within 10 pounds of what you want to weigh.
Pre-maintenance phase:
In this phase you are allowed to eat 10 grams of carbohydrates in your diet per week schedule. The main goal of this Atkins diet plan is also to find the critical carbohydrate level in order to keep your weight where you want it.
In this phase of Atkins diet plan, you will lose weight slowly and you will be able to test certain foods to observe if you can safely add them to your diet without weight gain. Once you achieve your goal weight, you will enter into the maintenance phase of Atkins diet plan.
Life maintenance phase:
In this phase you need to add some more carbohydrates into your diet, but not bad ones. This phase helps you continue to follow the eating habits that you picked up during this diet. You will be suggested to choose healthy carbs instead of bad ones such as whole wheat bread.
Once you get into this phase and start to gain weight then you need to go back to an earlier stage and start again from there.
The problems and consequences of Atkins diet plan:
• You will lose weight very quickly if you follow the Atkins diet plan.
• You won’t feel hungry because your body produces ketones, which act as an appetite suppressant.
• Atkins diet plan has some disagreeable physical side effects. Sometimes you may feel tired, constipated, have bad breath and lack of energy.
Before following Atkins diet plan, it is better to do your own research, because there are problems and consequences for every diet. It is best to visit your doctor to make a decision about which diet best suits for your condition. visit Weight Loss Diet Watch
By: Neelima Reddy
About the Author:
Neelima Reddy, author of this article writes for WeightLossDietWatch.com. This blog publishes weight loss & diet related information and news from around the world.
Visit http://www.weightlossdietwatch.com
The Atkins Diet – Truth Revealed!
Mar 22nd
A healthy diet is one of the main concerns of many people at present. This is due to the increasing number of illnesses that can inflict any human. A healthy diet would ensure your body’s need of nutrients such as vitamins. A healthy diet composes primarily of fruits and vegetables, cereals, rice and bread. These foods are the primary source of the nutrients that you will need to protect your body from illnesses. Furthermore, a healthy diet will help you lose weight. Maintaining a good body weight is important for doing physical activities. So if really you want to lose weight you need not only a good diet plan, you’ll also need exercise.
As for a healthy diet, you need to come up with a good diet plan. Or you could also follow one of the great and reliable diet plans and diet programs. And you might think of The Atkins Diet as a good option for a diet plan, but if you research on it more, you’ll find out the truth about the dangerous part of the Atkins diet.
The Atkins diet is a diet plan that focuses on taking in protein and taking fewer carbohydrates. While it might sound good, it is actually more of a danger to your body. Why? Here’s why:
A carbohydrate is a main nutrient of any food in this world. The amount of carbohydrates that you could consume on different types of food varies. Some foods have low carbohydrates while some have the right amount of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are used by the body to burn and use as energy. In effect, you will need to consume a certain amount of carbohydrates in order to gain energy to use for daily activities. With less carbohydrate intake with the Atkins diet, you will lose a valuable amount of energy. While the body could get energy from burning excess fats, your body may not be able to burn the right amount of food most of the time.
Another problem with the Atkins diet is that it restricts you from eating nutritious and healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. The reason for this is that fruits and vegetables contain more carbohydrates than the recommended amount on this diet. Fruits such as berries are the only fruits that you can eat through this diet. Non starchy and low carbohydrates vegetables are the only types of vegetables that you can eat. If you do not eat fruits and vegetables, you will not gain vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to fight and prevent diseases.
The Atkins diet also requires you to eat their Atkins diet food. They say that the Atkins diet food would further improve the rapid weight loss promised on the diet plan. But this would also mean that you will cash out more on this diet since you will have to buy their specialized foods such as bread and energy bar. It’s not something that you can enjoy, however.
Overall, the Atkins diet is a bad diet plan that can actually damage you and make you susceptible to illnesses. So do not undergo this diet and instead go for the Fat loss for idiots program. Fat loss for idiots lets you lose weight fast and it is guaranteed safe.
By: Janet Sommers
About the Author:
The Atkins Diet makes people sick! Too much protein and not enough balance! Choose a balanced diet that TELLS you what to eat exactly. 96% of people who tried it lost 11 pounds in 9 days. See what they said here: http://www.FatLossForIdiotsRevealed.com
Diabetes and the Atkins Diet – All About Diabetes
Mar 1st
While there are many diet plans going around these days that will help you lose weight and cut calories, one in particular has good benefits for those who suffer from diabetes, or are borderline diabetics. This diet plan is called the Atkins Diet and it is one of the most popular low carb diets around, and people who have used it have been very successful in meeting their weight loss goals. For diabetics, limiting carbohydrates is one of the most important aspects. The Atkins Diet helps do just that.
Dieting isn’t easy for anyone, and sometimes traditional dieting approaches, such as counting calories just isn’t enough. Of course, every diet should be accompanied by plenty of exercise to make the weight come off faster and stay off. The Atkins Diet teaches dieters how to eat more protein and fat, and limit starches, carbohydrates, and sugars. The Atkins Diet is also a great way to get off that glucose roller coaster, and keep blood sugar levels more constant without the crazy fluctuations.
The Atkins Diet works by strictly limiting carbohydrate intake and increasing protein and fats in the diet. By taking this approach, the body does not have the carbohydrates to burn first, so it burns fat instead. It may seem crazy to some to eat butter and other fats on a diet, but it is really the carbohydrates that keep people from reaching their weight loss goals. The Atkins Diet isn’t just a fad diet scam. It has been around since the early 1970s and even though it is controversial, Atkins Diet books have been and remain to be phenomenal best sellers. In addition to the multitude of weight loss success stories, the Atkins Diet is great for disease prevention, weight loss maintenance, and good health.
Dieters have a number of food options available to them and the amount of food eaten is not restricted, only the types of foods. No refined sugars are allowed, or white potatoes, white rice, or white flour. Meats, cheeses, fats, and proteins are all acceptable food options on the Atkins Diet.
The first two weeks on the Atkins Diet are the most restricted, in which only twenty grams of carbohydrates are allowed (carbs less grams of fiber). Fruits are not allowed and only a few leafy green vegetables. During this period, the change in biochemical activity is supposed to jump start the weight loss mechanism. Many people see significant results during this time frame, which gives them the added encouragement dieters need to continue with the diet and meet their weight loss goals.
Even though many people have had great results with the Atkins Diet, it isn’t for everyone. If you have diabetes, make sure you consult your doctor before the Atkins Diet. Discuss any issues with them and get your questions answered. The Atkins Diet may be what you’re looking for to help you lose the weight and cut the carbohydrates.
By: Alien
About the Author:
Alien writes for Diabetes Mellitus . He also writes for Diabetes diet and Diabetes causes
Advantages of the Atkins Diet
Feb 19th
Dr.Robert Atkins addressed his own weight condition from a diet he read in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Realizing the benefits of the diet he followed Atkins later popularized the idea as The Atkins Diet in a series of books, starting with Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution in 1972. The Atkins Diet or just ‘Atkins’ is a well known low carbohydrate diet.
How Atkins Diet Works
The Atkins Diet states we can change our metabolism and lose weight easily simply by eating foods high in protein and fat and limiting foods high in carbohydrate. Consuming a high level of carbohydrates causes overproduction of insulin, leading to increased hunger and weight gain. The diet encourages the consumption of foods rich in protein.
The Four Stages of the Atkins Diet
Induction
The Induction phase is the first, and most restrictive, phase of the Atkins Nutritional Approach. It is intended to cause the body to quickly enter a state of ketosis. Carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 net grams per day.
Ongoing Weight Loss
The Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase of Atkins consists of an increase in carbohydrate intake, but remaining at levels where weight loss occurs. The target daily carbohydrate intake increases each week by 5 net grams.
Pre-Maintenance
Carbohydrate intake is increased again this time by 10 net carbs a week from the ladder groupings, and the key goal in this phase is to find the “Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance”, this is the maximum number of carbohydrates you can eat each day without gaining weight.
Lifetime Maintenance
This phase is intended to carry on the habits acquired in the previous phases, and avoid the common end-of-diet mindset that can return people to their previous habits and previous weight. Whole, unprocessed food choices are emphasized, with the option to drop back to an earlier phase if you begin to gain weight.
Each stage becomes progressively less restrictive and gradually increases carbohydrates allowed.
What Food is Allowed in Atkins Diet
The allowed foods include a liberal amount of all meats, fish, shellfish, fowl, and eggs; up to 4 ounces (113 g) of soft or semi-soft cheese; salad vegetables; other low carbohydrate vegetables; and butter and vegetable oils.
Sample Menu Plan from the Atkins Diet
Breakfast:
Italian sausage frittata
Cup of Herbal Tea
Lunch
Tuna salad with mixed leafy greens topped with bacon bits
Dinner:
Bacon cheeseburger with broccoli and cauliflower
Fresh fruit kebobs
Snacks:
High-protein, low-sugar snack bar
What Food is Not Allowed in Atkins Diet
No bread, alcohol, or carbonated beverages, not even diet soda. Beverages are limited to water, and consumption of caffeine is not allowed. It May be difficult to eliminate breads and cereals, especially in families with children who love these types of foods.
Misconceptions about the Atkins Diet
Many people incorrectly believe that the Atkins Diet promotes eating unlimited amounts of fatty meats and cheeses. This is a key point of clarification that Dr. Atkins addressed in the more recent revisions of his book. Although the Atkins Diet does not impose limits on certain foods, or caloric restriction in general, Dr. Atkins points out in his book that this plan is “not a license to gorge.
Another common misconception arises from confusion between the Induction Phase and rest of the diet. The first two weeks of the Atkins Diet are strict, with only 20g of carbohydrates permitted per day. Atkins states that a dieter can safely stay at the Induction Phase for several months if the person has a lot of weight to lose. Once the weight-loss goal is reached, carbohydrate levels are raised gradually, though still significantly below USDA norms, and still within or slightly above the definition of ketosis.
Known Health Benefits of the Atkins Diet
There are over 50 studies that highlight the positive weight loss results and other health benefits associated with following the Atkins Diet. These benefits include weight loss, improvement in risk factors for heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, inflammation, benefits in treating epilepsy and decreasing obesity in children and adolescents.
Study out of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Washington University School of Medicine randomly assigned participants to a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet or a low-calorie, high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. The low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater weight loss and was associated with a greater improvement in some risk factors for coronary heart disease.
Study out of Stanford University Medical School compared four weight-loss diets representing a spectrum of low to high carbohydrate intake for effects on weight loss and related metabolic variables. Participants assigned to follow the Atkins diet, which had the lowest carbohydrate intake, lost more than twice the weight and experienced favorable overall metabolic effects at 12 months than those assigned to follow the Zone, Ornish, or LEARN diets.
Additional Suggested Health Benefits of the Atkins Diet
Many people like being able to eat as much protein and fat as they wish, because these foods are often restricted in more traditional diet plans.
For people who have tried a low-fat, high-carbohydrate weight loss plan without success, increasing protein in their diet often results in decreased food cravings and more rapid weight loss.
The diet is relatively easy to follow; there are no complicated meal plans.
Potential Risks of the Atkins Diet
Eating unlimited amounts of fat, especially saturated fat found in meat products, can lead to increased risk of heart disease. Extensive research on healthy populations tells us to eat more fruits,vegetables and whole grains. Restricting these foods in the name of weight loss may lead to long-term health problems.
Additionally any diet that limits carbohydrate causes the body to rely on fat or muscle for energy. When our body breaks down stored fat to supply energy, a byproduct called ketones is formed. Ketones suppress appetite, but they also cause fatigue, nausea, and a potentially dangerous fluid loss. Anyone with diabetes, heart, or kidney problems should check with their physician before following a low-carb diet.
Unpleasant side effects include constipation (caused by the low-fiber diet) and bad breath.
Impact of the Atkins Diet on Diet Culture
Since the Atkins Diet made headlines n the late ’90s, there has been an explosion of low carbohydrate versions of traditionally high carbohydrate products, such as bread, pasta and even candy. Thiewed as the “grand daddy” and cause of the explosion of low carrb diets popularity in the nineties to early 2000.
What the Experts are Saying about the Atkins Diet
Atkins Diet supporters claim it offers faster weight loss and a relatively user-friendly eating plan. Sceptics, including dietitians and nutritionists, maintain that Atkins Diet weight loss is both short-term and possibly a health risk, even though the weight loss itself may have the beneficial effect of lowering cholesterol.
Dr. Foster, one of the researchers involved in studying the Atkins Diet, acknowledged the possible health dangers of the Atkins diet and stated a longer five-year study was planned:
“This larger study of 360 participants will help us more fully assess the benefits and risks of low-carbohydrate diets on bone mass, kidney function, arterial function and exercise tolerance,” he said. “I’m very, very concerned that people will get the message from these studies that the Atkins diet is safe and effective, but I don’t believe we know that yet.”
Brigid McKevith, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), said:
“We welcome the fact that the Atkins diet is being studied scientifically and that randomised controlled studies have been carried out, because it’s very popular with the public. [however] There are several potential problems with the Atkins diet. These include long term bone health, as with a very high protein intake the excretions of calcium increase, so there could be implications for the health of bones,” she explained.
“There could be difficulties for people who have an underlying problem with their kidneys or liver, because it would be putting more strain on those organs, and problems in terms of heart disease too, as it’s a diet very low in fruits and vegetables. Also, it’s very low in fiber, so in terms of digestive health, it’s not in keeping with our fibre and complex carbohydrate recommendations.”
Belinda Linden, head of medical information at the British Heart Foundation, holds similar views.
“The new studies do not indicate a dramatic weight loss for excessively obese people,” she said. “Previous studies have shown that weight loss from the Atkins Diet may involve muscle loss rather than body fat. Another potential problem is that it is so far unclear from studies whether weight loss is sustained over a longer period than six months. One of the studies shows no significant difference at 12 months.” She added that: “With minimal fruit and vegetables included in the diet, it holds serious implications for coronary heart disease and cancer. Diets need to be varied to protect against these conditions – and this one isn’t. This diet requires further long term and larger studies before its effectiveness can be confirmed.”
Volumetrics author Barbara Rolls, PhD, who holds the Guthrie Chair in Nutrition at Penn State University, offers a very simple explanation as to why people lose weight on Atkins diet:
“They’re cutting calories, even if they don’t realize it. No one has shown, in any studies, that anything magical is going on with Atkins other than calorie restriction. The diet is very prescriptive, very restrictive, and limits half of the foods we normally eat. In the end it’s not fat, it’s not protein, it’s not carbs – it’s calories. You can lose weight on anything that helps you to eat less, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you.”
Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Commission for Responsible Medicine, a non-profit research group based in Washington, says:
“Low-carb diets have been linked to increased frequency of colon cancer, formation of kidney stones, kidney disease, and even osteoporosis… The reason for the health worries is in large part due to red meat. People who eat meat every day have three times greater risk of developing colon cancer. And then there is the problem of the kidneys. They aren’t designed to work on an oil slick of fat.”
Susan Barr, registered dietitian in New York City, says:
“There have been reports in the medical literature that say that this low-carb diet may not be as bad as we thought. That makes people interested again in this diet, but until there is more research on what stresses the diet places on the body, there is no way to know what it might be doing besides providing short-term weight loss.”
The Bottom Line
The Atkins Diet is an optimally balanced lifetime eating plan with the flexibility to meet each individual’s unique physical condition addressing factors such as age, gender, level of physical activity, and metabolic rate.
This diet may seem like the tastiest way to lose weight, but don’t be misled by claims of effortless weight loss and unlimited amounts of food. Nothing is that simple!
By: Jeff Behar
About the Author:
Jeff Behar, MS, MBA has over 30 years of experience in Health, Fitness, Nutrition and Anti-aging Fields.
Jeff also started lifting at 13, and became a natural bodybuilder, competing at the national level. He has trained with top Olympia IFBB champions. Jeff is also a popular writer, writing in excess of 2000 articles, as well as being a routine contributor to magazines, newsletters, reference books, and other online health, Nutrition and fitness sites. Jeff is also a well sought after trainer, and motivational speaker having trained several clients in the entertainment field. Jeff also worked alongside a renowned Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgeon and Dermatologist providing office management, marketing and client services in the areas of anti-aging, wellness and body image consulting.
Jeff is also the owner of several popular online health and fitness portals, including but not limited to:
MuscleMagFitness.com, MyBestHealhPortal.com, PersonalTrainingPro.com, LeanMuscleSite.com, and JeffBehar.com