The Pitfalls of The Atkins Diet

There are different kinds of diet fads available for one to choose from. Sad to say, not all of them can effectively work for everybody. These diets are usually just passing fads that people get into just because they are the “in” thing. But little do some people know that some of these diet fads can have some negative side effects on the body. Take for example, the Atkins Diet.

The Atkins Diet has taken its place among the many popular diets that have been designed for the health conscious. It was in 1972 that Dr. Robert Atkins introduced the Atkins Diet by describing it in his book, “Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution”. It is a diet based on a high protein, high fat, and low carbohydrate diet. During Dr Atkins’ time, introducing such a diet regimen to the public was a courageous move, since his methods went against conventional ideas by most medical experts. But Dr. Atkins believed in his own studies and went through years of substantial research before coming up with his new diet plan.

The Atkins Diet works by cutting the carbohydrate intake of the body. Carbohydrates are taken in by our body for energy that can be used now or stored for use in a later time. Carbohydrates not used by the body are readily converted into body fat by the action of insulin. A high carbohydrate diet can stimulate a higher insulin production by the pancreas. However, it has been known that having elevated insulin levels also can cause more fat to be deposited in the body and can stimulate the brain to produce hunger signals. When these signals occur, it will usually make one eat more and more carbohydrates, following a vicious cycle that keeps on repeating again and again.

That is why the Atkins Diet professes that a low carbohydrate diet is the way to lose excess weight. By reducing the intake of carbohydrates, the body will concentrate on getting their energy from the protein and fat group. Maintaining a low carbohydrate diet will induce fat loss in the body and therefore make one lose weight. It may look like a great way to lose some excess weight for some people. But there are studies that show a low carbohydrate diet like the Atkins diet can have some negative side effects.

Some experts believe that restricting or drastically limiting one’s carbohydrate intake can have harmful side effects on the body. Restricting carbohydrate intake and loading up on protein and fats can increase the risk of developing heart disease, stroke and cancer. Loading up on more protein can lead to increased calcium loss. The body excretes calcium through the urine when larger amounts of protein are taken. Loss of calcium may lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis.

A low carbohydrate and high protein diet like the Atkins Diet can also lead to irritability, light headedness, dehydration, constipation, bad breath and a higher risk of developing kidney problems. It is also known that the Atkins Diet can have far more negative consequences rather than its positive benefits. The Atkins Diet may achieve favorable results in its early stages but the negative effects will develop little by little once the body is prevented from getting carbohydrates that are important for the daily functions of the body.