Well, they certainly can help you lose weight. They are all designed to do that, and on that level they are almost all effective, at least for a little while.

But there are risks to many of these diets. Often, vital nutrients are eliminated from your diet for too long, leading to a variety of complications, some of which can be very serious.

Starvation diets where you either limit your diet to one or two foods or reduce the total intake of food can be very dangerous. Your body needs a wide variety of nutrients, balanced effectively for maximum use. If it fails to get what it needs, you can suffer from a variety of issues, some of which can be serious and result in permanent injury.

Many of these diets are especially dangerous to people with diabetes. They can take so drastically lower the dieters blood sugar level that serious complications, even death can result. Studies have also shown that diabetics can be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease when on poorly balanced diets. If the dieter is not aware they have diabetes they have no way to avoid those risks. This is why it is so important to consult your physician before starting any significant weight loss program.

How can a dieter avoid these risks and still lose weight? There are many diets out there that offer sensible and safe ways to shed weight and still be healthy. Some of those plans are outlined in books you can find in your local bookstore. Others can be found online at sites like www.stripthatfat.com. Each of these plans focus on the key things to remember when trying to follow a safe diet.

First, your body needs a balance of sugars, carbohydrates and fats. Research your diet plan for signs that it is balanced and includes the proper nutritional balance of foods, then be sure to follow that plan carefully. Avoid those plans that focus on one or two foods or types of food to the exclusion of all others.

One advantage to on-line programs is that many of them have menu generators that can help you plan healthy meals that still help you lose weight. Others may have on-line food diaries, which have been proven to be effective in helping a dieter manage their diet.

Using these resources will help you stick to a diet that will not only help you lose weight but will do so in a healthy way that will not pose an even greater risk to your health than the excess weight will.

It is virtually impossible to avoid carbohydrates entirely in your diet, and it would be unhealthy to do so. Your body does need some carbohydrates. A “no carb” diet is actually a very low carb diet. One example of a no-carb diet is the induction phase of the Atkins plan. There are other diets out there that keep carbs low as a permanent part of the plan. Either way, what foods should a person on one of these diets avoid?

Breads and pastries are the easiest things to identify as being high in carbohydrates. Bread, muffins, crackers and bagels are on the list of things to avoid on low carb diets while no carb diets rule them out altogether. A basic rule is that if it is made with flour, it is not on your diet plan. Pastas fit this rule as well.

Potatoes in all their forms (fried, baked, mashed, etc.) are to be avoided on low and no carb diets. Pastas such as gnocchi and potato breads are similarly to be avoided.

Another food to avoid is rice. Brown and whole-grain rices are okay in later stages of low carb diets, but are not on a no carb diet (or the first stages of low-carb diets for that matter). Both of these types of diets recommend avoiding white rices.

Cereals are another food to avoid. This includes not only cold cereals that you pour milk over and serve but also hot cereals such as oatmeal and cream of wheat.

Beans such as black beans, kidney beans and pinto beans are to be avoided as they are high in carbs. Corn and carrots are other vegetables to avoid as both are high in sugar and carbohydrates.

Fruits to avoid include (but may not be limited to) apricots, bananas, blueberries, dates, grapefruits and figs.

Milk has carbohydrates in the form of lactose sugar. Many of those sugars get taken out of milk in the process of making cheese, but watch out for plain milk and cream. Those sugars are still in there.

Another good rule of thumb on no-carb diets is to avoid all processed and packaged food. Invariably, they are loaded up with sugary and carb-heavy ingredients in an effort to compensate for the loss of taste inherent in the preservation and packaging processes. This is especially true of so-called reduced fat foods. They are even higher in sugars and carbs than their higher fat counterparts.

Lastly, avoid sweets. High sugar foods are also high in carbohydrates. Avoid cakes, candies and other sweets. Following all of these rules will help you stick to your no carb diet.

He was 72 years old.

With all due respect to Veronica Atkins, I would like to assume Dr. Atkins did in fact suffer a fatal heart attack. This is in order to answer the following questions…Is it right to use his death as evidence against the safety of the Atkins Diet Plan and other low Carb diets?

Does the recent bankruptcy of the Atkins Corporation provide evidence for the ineffectiveness of low Carb diets?

Many critics of low Carb diets say yes to both questions, but are they right?

The Atkins Diet Plan & Cardiovascular Risk

Medically speaking, it is incorrect to associate Dr. Atkins’ fatal heart attack to the use of his low Carb diet. There are two reasons for coming to this conclusion.The increased risk for cardiovascular events associated with Atkins Diet Plan are not from restricting carbohydrates. Instead, the higher risk of cardiovascular events comes from replacing carbohydrates with foods high in saturated fats.

Dr. Atkins died at the age of 72. Beyond the age of 72, the risk for a cardiovascular event is the same for everyone. Granted, he was diagnosed with a cardiomyopathy (diseased heart muscle) when he was 69 and he suffered a heart attack in early 2004.

However, both events occurred well above the age of 55…the cut off used for men to assign an increased risk for cardiovascular events to their first degree relatives. He was at an age which allows for the exclusion of any significant cardiovascular risk passing to his children.

From an epidemiology view point, risk behaviors like smoking or eating a high fat diet are no longer considered as primary contributors in Dr. Atkins’ death.

Yes, eating a high fat diet may have played a role, but this is only speculation. Because Dr. Atkins was 72 at the time of his death, no risk for similar events is passed onto his first degree relatives and the risk for cardiovascular events is the same for everyone at that age.

With all due respect, he died of old age. To blame the Atkins Diet Plan and low Carb diets in general is medically irresponsible. At 72 years old, there are several factors to consider when faced with a fatal heart attack, including the aging process itself.

Veronica Atkins was quoted by CNN…
“My husbands health at the time of his death is a sad and distracting sideshow, taking time away from an intelligent debate of the known science.”

For a more detailed discussion on cardiovascular risk and age, please visit…  www.medscape.com

Low Carb Bankruptcy — Evidence for its Ineffectiveness?

The only correct way to measure a diet’s effectiveness (or lack there of) is to study the evidence provided by clinical trials. Recently, a few good studies have reported on the effectiveness of the Atkins Diet Plan and other low Carb diets.

In short, low Carb diets, measured at one year, are safe and effective in helping dieters lose weight.

Like all diet types, the evidence for long term effectiveness (2 to 5 years) is sparse and inconsistent.

Cardiovascular risk increases for some dieters on low Carb diets, not because of the carbohydrate restriction, but because of the consumption of foods high in fat. Also, sticking with the low Carb diet appears to be tough for most dieters beyond one year.

And lastly, low Carb diets that promote long stages of measurable ketosis may cause rapid weight loss that is too extreme. This is a great way to guarantee weight regain in the near future.

Conclusion

Atkins death, from whatever the cause, can not be associated with his diet because he was 72 years old at the time of his death. Even if Dr. Atkins’ death could be associated with his diet, no correlations could be made to similar low Carb diets, too much variation exists between them.

Bankruptcy does not belong in a scientific discussion of a diet’s effectiveness.

To Healthy Living!

Please visit his site at…
The Weight Loss Professional
written by: Michael A. Smith, MD

Even though you are now allowed a little more flexibility than in the induction phase of the program this second stage will continue to amaze you with the how much the weight will continue to drop and the fat melt off.

You will begin to see a gradual slow down of the rate in which the weight loss and inches lost occur. This is a normal and deliberate part of the plan so don’t let it bother you. Just bear in mind that just because you are being allowed a few more carbs it doesn’t mean you can go back to eating whatever you want. You must eat good quality carbs and steer clear of junk carbs such as white flour and sugar.

You must also have a set goal. Do not just make a goal of losing some weight, have a specific amount of weight you want to lose and write the goal down. It is much easier to visualize you end goal when it is written down. You must visualize and see how your body will look and how you will feel when you reach your goal.

With the Ongoing Weight Loss Program you will learn to continue to burn and dissolve fat, maintain control of your appetite, learn how many more carbs you can take in and eat a wider choice of foods.

The following are the main rules of Ongoing Weight Loss:

Keep protein and fat as the mainstays of your nutritional regimen

Do not increase your daily carb intake by more than five grams a week

Add new foods in the order listed in the Atkins carb ladder

Only add one food group at a time

Stop new foods immediately if they promote weight gain or increased cravings

Continue on Ongoing Weight Loss until you have five to ten pounds to lose.

If you follow these guidelines you are sure to be successful in your quest for weight loss.

Millions of people rode on the low carb bandwagon and nutrition experts were appalled. The uproar over the diet is understandable; after all, it went against all the principles of the medically accepted and traditional low fat regimen, which had been the norm for years.

Simply put, going on the Atkins diet - or “doing Atkins” - means that a person has to drastically cut down on his or her intake of carbohydrates, especially those found in starchy foods.

People find that this can be difficult, especially those who have become accustomed to consuming food like bread, potatoes, cakes, cereals, and pasta regularly for years. On the up side, protein-rich foods are not only allowed on this low carb diet, they are actually encouraged. So there’s no need to give up mayonnaise, butter, pork, beef, fried food, and many others that are off-limits in low fat diets.

There are four phases in this diet. The first stage, called Induction, requires the dieter to reduce his or her carb intake to 20 grams per day for two weeks. Carbohydrates should be acquired from vegetables, so the usual starchy baked products and fruits are forbidden during this period.

After the induction phase, you are allowed to gradually increase your intake of carbohydrates until you reach your carb threshold, or the amount of carbs you can safely eat without gaining weight.

For many adults, 60 to 90 grams of carbs per day is the limit. With this diet, you count carbs, not calories.

The Atkins premise is that carbohydrates, which our bodies use for fuel, are the culprits responsible for weight gain. Excess carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels, which in turn make us feel hungry in a short amount of time after a meal. An increase in your blood sugar can also trigger the pancreas to create more insulin, which in turn influences how the body converts carbs to fats, which are manifested in that paunch or those love handles.

This extra weight can lead to many health problems, including diabetes and heart disease.

In addition to helping a person lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time, a number of clinical studies have shown the Atkins diet to be beneficial in the reduction of the so-called “bad cholesterol” that can lead to heart disease.

In addition, other studies suggest that the diet has at least a positive short-term effect on diabetics, and anecdotal evidence states that it is also instrumental in relieving the symptoms of disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome.

One thing that the critics praise about the Atkins low carb diet is its education of people about being picky about foods; to avoid junk food and those that contain nothing but sugar and empty calories.

Another aspect of the diet that meets with expert approval is its encouragement of exercise. It still follows the basic tenet that if you take in more than you burn, you will still gain weight, no matter what diet you are on.

One relative difficulty that reduced-carbohydrate dieters complain about is food boredom. Perhaps this was a problem in the early days, but not so anymore.

Today, there are plenty of “mock” foods patterned after regular dishes like pancakes, mashed potatoes, cheesecake, muffins, and the like - but without the carbohydrates and sugar. If you have a craving for something sweet, you can still eat candy bars, cakes, and chocolate products that are sweetened not with sugar but with sucralose.

Weight loss on this low carb diet is quicker than that observed on low-fat diets, but remember that you should not shed pounds too rapidly - 2 to four pounds a week is the average.

And to make sure to take the necessary dietary supplements to make sure that you are getting all the nutrients you need to stay healthy while losing weight. You should also remember to drink plenty of water.

This will help flush waste from your body and assist it in the burning of fat as the major source of fuel.

Going on the Atkins diet can help you in your weight loss efforts if you follow the basic tenets: don’t overeat (eat only until you feel satisfied);

don’t under-eat (eat whenever you feel hungry);

exercise; be realistic. You should not aspire to be razor thin. Rather, aim for your ideal body weight and stay
healthy on your way there.

About the author:
Carb-club.com provides you with information on all kinds of issues like the Atkins diet and diets like the South Beach diet, the Zone diet, and more. Come take a look at http://www.carb-club.com/

The Atkins Diet says carbohydrates affect blood sugar and the hormone insulin. They contend that insulin, not the types or quantities of food, cause an imbalanced metabolism and fat storage.
Insulin is produced by the body in response to the high glucose levels. It causes the liver to convert glucose into glycogen, (which can become body fat), reducing the blood sugar to safe levels.

On the other hand, if the diet is very low in carbohydrates, the blood sugar level can fall too low. There will be insufficient glucose to fuel the cells of the body. The Atkins Diet says it allows enough good carbs to keep this from happening.
Medical experts say that allowing high protein and high fat foods in unlimited quantities is unhealthy. The downside is that it is not good for your heart. We have all heard about how fat and cholesterol can clog our arteries.
Some of the nutritional benefits that are lost as a result of low carb diets are fiber and B vitamins that are found in bread, cereals, and grains.  Fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that are found in fruits and vegetables, protect against disease.

Calcium and vitamin D, found in dairy products, help build strong bones and teeth. Healthy sources of fat, found in nuts, protect against heart disease. Fiber, found in most high carb foods, helps you feel full longer.

Constipation is a big downside for people following low carb, high protein diets. Fruits, vegetables and grains provide fiber that helps maintain regular bowel function. The Atkins Diet is not recommended for people with chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

High levels of protein have been shown to increase calcium loss from the body. Dairy products, which contain calcium, are restricted in low carb diets. Inadequate intake has been associated with osteoporosis, a disease which causes the bones to become very fragile. High protein intakes have also been associated with kidney disease.

Since the kidneys are responsible for eliminating the by-products of protein, researchers say it puts excess strain on them. This has not been proven, except in persons who already have poor kidney function.
Since carbohydrates are the primary source of fuel for the muscles and brain, eating a low carb diet can cause muscle weakness, tiredness and dehydration. Individuals who participate in high endurance activities should not participate in a low carbohydrate diet.
A low carb diet should be completely avoided during pregnancy, lactation, childhood, and the pre-teen years. During these periods of life, growth is very rapid and requires calories and many nutrients for optimal development.
These are the main downsides to the Atkins Diet.  Is a low carb diet good for you or is it dangerous. By looking at both sides, and consulting with your health care provider, you can make an informed decision.

That would be a person totally committed to losing weight.  Let’s face it, dieting is not fun. Suddenly, doughnuts, pies, cakes, cookies, potato chips, and Mac Donald’s take on a whole new appeal. It seems that when we’re deprived of something, it becomes essential that we have it.
Are you the type of person that can follow the Atkins Diet?  Let’s find out. Look in the mirror. Do you like what you see?  If you do, read no further.  If you don’t, read on.
The Atkins Diet asks 10 questions to see if this diet is for you. These are the 10 questions.

1.  Are you overweight, even if you feel you don’t eat that much?

2. Do you follow weight-loss plans to the letter and make no headway or get stuck on a weight loss plateau?

3. Do you notice many slim people consume more food and calories than you?

4. Are you always hungry on low calorie diets?

5. Are you still hungry when you finish a “balanced meal”?

6. Do you continually lose and gain the same 10 to 15 pounds?

7. Do you gain weight while eating low-fat foods?

8. Do you often blame it on your metabolism?

9. Do you constantly crave sweets and other high-carbohydrate foods?

10. Do you have a strong desire to eat again within two hours of eating a filling meal?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, you are the type of person that will follow the Atkins Diet.  You are probably addicted to refined carbohydrates or your body does not process them normally.

These highly processed carbs break down rapidly into glucose in your bloodstream. Your blood sugar then goes on a roller coaster ride, causing you to want to eat even more.

Eating too many bad carbs can cause an inability to lose or maintain weight loss.  It leaves you in a constant state of hunger.  Anyone tired of this diet roller coaster, and looking for a better way of losing weight, is the type of person that will follow the Atkins Diet.

Ask yourself if you’re looking for a program that diminishes cravings, reduces appetite, and eliminates addictive food patterns.  Do you want a diet that recommends some of the best and healthiest foods, is flexible, and let’s you eat delicious foods at home or out?

Is a diet that does not require you to buy expensive pre-made meals the right one for you? Do you want one that helps you reach your weight loss goals and keep it off for the long run? How about minimizing risk factors for certain health issues?  We all want to look great and feel more confident.  The Atkins Diet claims to be able to do that. It is also backed by science.

If this sounds like what you have been looking for, then you are the type of person that will follow the Atkins Diet.

Atkins knows that the right kinds of fats in the diet are essential. They are a vital energy source, help slow digestion, and keep you feeling full and satisfied longer. The right kinds of fat help your body absorb vitamins such as, A, D, E, and K.

The Atkins Diet shows you that it is not healthy to try to banish all fats from your diet. They will help you determine good fats from bad so you won’t have to worry about the percentage.

Monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids are all heart healthy fats. The rule of thumb is that good fats are liquid at room temperature and may thicken when refrigerated.

Most vegetable oils fit in this category. Omega-3 fatty acids come from fatty fish such as, salmon, albacore tuna, herring, and mackerel.  Walnuts, flaxseeds, and flaxseed oil are other good sources.  These are all allowed on the Atkins Diet, but there is no percentage given as they feel none is needed.

Saturated fat is semisolid to solid at room temperature. Animal products are the main sources of saturated fats. Tropical oils and cocoa butter are also high in saturated fat. Smaller amounts are present in some plant foods like olive oil and nuts. The Atkins Diet believes that by substituting healthier fats like olive oil and canola oil for butter, they don’t have to count the percentage. You will still lose weight.

They do not recommend trans fat, however. Trans fat is produced when hydrogen is added to liquid oils to make them solid and extend their shelf life. They are found in packaged products and almost every food that contains shortening. The Atkins Diet helps you avoid trans fat by teaching you to read food labels.

Manufacturers are allowed to claim zero trans fat for any food containing up to one half gram per serving.  Go to the ingredients list where the words hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated are a warning flag that it contains trans fat. The bottom line on the two different types is that unsaturated fats don’t clog your arteries and saturated fats do.

The Atkins Diet relies on the fact that you will concentrate on low carbs and protein and the fat percentage will just fall into place. Of course, you still have to be aware of the type of fat you’re consuming.  The percentage of fat won’t hamper your weight loss efforts if you pay attention to what the Atkins Diet teaches you about healthy eating.

All of the Atkins Diet recipes give the nutrition breakdown and you will know what type and percentage of fat is in each meal.  For those of us who think fat makes food taste better, it’s nice to know that some fats are okay.

Phase 2 and 3 adds the rest of the carbs you are allowed back into your diet.
Another characteristic of the Atkins Diet is that it teaches you about nutrition. They do this by teaching you to read food labels and showing you the difference between good and bad carbs.

We all know that too many calories cause you to gain weight, but Atkins teaches you that too few calories slow down your metabolism.  They give you a calorie range. Women should shoot for 1500 – 1800 calories per day.

Men should go for 1800 – 2000 calories per day. These ranges can vary depending on your size, gender, age, and metabolism.
My favorite characteristic is they want you to eat three regular sized meals and two snacks every day. A snack is a good word on the Atkins Diet and they show you how to choose wisely. They have delicious bars and shakes that can be enjoyed from day one.

They even show you how to choose wisely when eating out. Unlike other diet plans, Atkins does not require you to buy expensive pre-made meals. Instead, they give you lists of acceptable foods and you shop and cook your own meals. Another characteristic that I like is the recipes that are on their website. They have a meal plan and recipes that you can copy and take to the store.
Activity is another recommendation of the Atkins Diet. Get out and go for a walk, play with your kids, or do some gardening for exercise. It will help speed up your weight loss. Involve your family and friends and let them give you encouragement.
A characteristic of the Atkins Diet that some other diets lack is the attention to your health. Atkins wants you to visit your healthcare provider for a checkup before you start the diet.

They also recommend a follow-up when you reach your goal weight. They say you should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and take vitamin supplements. Make sure they include potassium, magnesium, and calcium, but no iron.

Get your omega 3’s and 6’s every day and a fiber supplement if necessary. As you can see, the Atkins Diet has many great characteristics.  The science behind it seems to be valid and their website is very user friendly. All of the tools and information that you need, you can readily access.  When contacted with a question, they respond promptly.

No, it isn’t. the Atkins Diet is intended to be a lifelong change in eating habits and not just a short-term weight loss plan. Certainly most people focus on the weight loss aspect of the diet, and that is no doubt a major factor in its wide popularity.

But if you examine the full plan, you find it is designed as a permanent eating program and not just a way to lose weight. The Atkins Diet is designed to help you lose the weight and keep it off for the rest of your life. In effect, you can (and according to true Atkins devotees should) stick to the plan for the rest of your life.

Now, this isn’t to say that the various phases of the diet don’t have time limits on them. The Induction phase is designed to last two weeks. It could last even less, or be skipped altogether if your weight loss needs are very modest.

The Atkins plan recommends that induction not last more than two weeks, as it is designed to help bring about a rapid change in the way your body reacts to food. The indication phase is too low in carbohydrates to make for a healthy long-term dietary plan.

The ongoing weight loss phase (often called the OWL phase) is designed to last as long as it takes for you to reach your desired weight. At an average loss of 2 pounds per week, it could take most of a year to lose a large amount of weight on this phase of the plan.

There is no real time limit on this phase of the plan, but it is designed to end. It ends as you get within 5 pounds of your desired weight, no matter how long it takes you to get to that point.

The “pre-maintenance” phase will take 5-6 weeks. This is how long it will take you to raise your carb levels to the maintenance level, then lower them again just a bit to shed those last few pounds.

Then comes the lifelong phase of the diet, maintenance. This is the one part of the Atkins plan that is intended to last the rest of your life. Here, you are eating a diet that will help keep off the weight that you have lost while still maintaining a healthy overall eating plan.

So overall, the real answer to the question “how long do I stay on the Atkins Diet” is “for the rest of your life.” Of course, all but the last phase of the diet actually are designed to end after a certain period of time.