Is The Atkins Diet The Most Effective Way To Lose Weight?
The Atkins Diet - the most controversial eating plan ever to hit the dieting world! Easy to understand, supposedly even easy to follow and most importantly fashionable, the Atkins Diet has won the support of millions of dieters worldwide. Advocated by certain sections of the scientific community and vilified by others, the controversial claim that the Atkins Diet is the most effective way to lose weight is hotly debated.
However, as convincing as some of the arguments may seem, the scientific claims into the alleged weight-loss properties of the Atkins Diet can be grossly misleading and I feel it is worth pointing out a number of facts which are rarely mentioned by Atkins' advocates. In one of the many articles I have read endorsing low carb/high protein diets, one study of 77 women claimed they each lost an average of 10lb over the course of a year. Fantastic, you might say. Proof indeed that the Atkins Diet does work. The question is what did the 10lb consist of?
The term 'weight-loss' is so ambiguous that to state someone has lost 10lb can be very misleading. A loss of 10lb could quite easily have come from:
- Water loss (we are after all at least 60% water)
- Protein/muscle loss (in certain conditions, the body cannibalises its own muscle mass to provide energy).
- Stored carbohydrate in the form of glycogen (the average human stores 5lb-worth)
- Fat (10lb of fat is the equivalent of 40,000kcal)
If you take into account the fact that in the first 48 hours of the Atkins Diet you will lose 5lb of stored glycogen and water, this demonstrates just how easy 'weight-loss' can appear to be. The debate on the efficacy and health implications for the Atkins' approach to dieting will undoubtedly continue, but one interesting point which nutritionists often raise is the belief that the reason why people lose weight on the Atkins Diet is simply down to the fact that they eat fewer calories. Despite the fact that Atkins' dieters are encouraged to eat plenty of protein and fat, there is only so much you can stomach before you feel full. Protein is well known for its ability to make us feel full for longer, so by eating lots of it we are less inclined to feel hungry and reach for snacks.
Although the principles of this dietary approach may sound inviting, it's worth remembering that large quantities of protein and fat wreak havoc on our kidneys, cholesterol levels and ultimately the arteries. Cut back on your carbs by all means, but don't go overboard on protein- and fat-rich foods.