The Atkin's Diet

 

The Atkins Diet

Theory: The Atkins diet is another low-carb diet plan. It focuses on reducing the intake of carbohydrates while increasing that of fats and proteins to bring about the metabolic shift. All the aspects, the do’s, the don’ts of an Atkins diet are the same as the Low-Carb diets with smaller differences and modifications. So, it can be righteous to say it a flexible low-carb diet. 

 

The Atkins diet works in phases. There are four progressing phases and they are briefly described here.

1. Induction Phase: This is a 2-week first phase of the Atkins diet. It limits the intake of carbohydrates to only 20g per day for 2 weeks.
2. Balancing Phase: This is the second phase but the time frame depends upon the individuals. In this phase, carb intake is increased a little with only low-carb vegetables, nuts and fruits. Keep your diet in this phase until you near your weight loss goal.
3. Tuning Phase: Just like we tune the radio frequencies to make our choice audible first and then clear and better, now we need to tune the weight. You are already near your weight loss goal. Now you have to slow the weight loss process to be able to maintain the constant weight. This is done by increasing more carbs to the diet.
4. Maintenance Phase: This is the fourth and the last phase of the Atkins diet. It targets at increasing carbs in your diet only to the levels to sustain the weight and you don’t gain back what you’ve lost. 

 

Points to remember:

 

With Atkins diet as your principle weight loss program, you’ll have to have plenty of fiber. Since it restricts the carbohydrate intake, fiber source is eliminated. Remember to have enough fiber as much is required for smooth gut functioning through low-carb vegetables. Other points of consideration are similar to the ones following the low-carb diets.

 

Eco Atkins Diet: An eco-friendly Atkins diet that allows you to limit your carb intake while increasing your fats and proteins from vegan sources is the vegan version of the Atkins diet. It is also known as the Eco-Atkins Diet. High protein and fat vegan sources include soy, gluten, plant seed oils and nuts. The carb intake is not as limited as a conventional Atkins diet and this also does not ask for any extra fiber. It follows the same 4-phase pattern particular of the Atkins diet where the calorie intake sources are divided between carbohydrates, proteins and fats in the ratio of 5:6:9. So, a typical Eco-Atkins diet will contain ingredients that can derive calories as 5 parts from carbohydrates, 6 from proteins and 9 parts from fats.