About The Atkins Diet

The Atkins Diet plan theory suggests that the overall cause of weight gain is excessive intake of carbohydrates in the average diet, so the diet sets out to reduce the amount of carbohydrates (carbs) in the daily food intake. These foodstuffs include refinded/processed carbohydrates, including bread, sugar, pasta, & even vegetables that are high in starch, such as potatoes.

Insulin Resistance

Dr. Atkins also suggested in his book that a large proportion of the population who are overweight may be "Insulin Resistant", meaning that their bodily system do not properly convert carbohydrates in to glucose effectively. Hence, his diet is based on this theory, to reduce intake of carbohydrates to under 40 grams a day, which induces a process of "Ketosis"

Ketosis & Atkins Induction Stage

Ketosis is reached when in the Induction stage of the Atkins dieting plan, where the body causes your body to burn any available fat for fuel and energy instead of the usual carbohydrates. This is why consumption of fat is encouraged whilst on this diet. The Atkins diet plan says that on starting ketosis any urges for carbohydrates are easily overcome.

Eat meat, meat, meat!

If you like plenty of meat, this diet is definitely for you. As this diet plan virtually eliminates all carbs for the initial duration of the dietary process, what's left is a large daily intake of protein as a supplement for the missing carbohydrates. Fat also plays a very important part in the Atkins Diet, and consumption of fat is encouraged in order to supply a source of fuel for energy.