Atkins Diet

The Atkins diet was devised and written by a cardiologist, Robert Atkins in 1972. He had written over 13 books on the Atkins Nutritional Approach. Dr. Atkins died in April 2003, but his method of eating has enjoyed a resurgence of interest. There is an Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine, a website and several companies now manufacture and sell the food and nutritional supplements he recommended.

Dr. Atkins’ hypothesis was that obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes are results of, or are exacerbated by, excessive insulin production, which he believes to be due to an excessive carbohydrate intake.
Amino acids (protein) and glucose (carbohydrate) stimulate insulin secretion.

The Atkins diet is divided into four phases. The most recently published book by the Atkins group advocates some restriction of saturated fat intake and discusses the benefits of choosing carbohydrate foods according to their glycemic index. In his book a number of special food products are promoted such as reduced sugar protein shakes, bread mixes, cereal bars, chocolate and chocolate drinks. These products tend to be based on soy and soy flour and rely on artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and the sugar alcohols for sweetness.

These products cannot be recommended as they are not low in calories and they are not designed to replace nutrients absent from this diet (the diet is high not low protein).
Dr. Atkins routinely prescribed 30 different nutritional supplements for his patients. The supplements he recommends provide considerably more than the reference nutrient intake for each nutrient.

There is no scientific evidence to support the use of these supplements in the doses he recommends. Chromium picolinate is recommended in his books for people with diabetes. It currently carries a Food Standards Agency warning because in vitro studies suggest that it may be carcinogenic.[6] The doses of supplements recommended are, in most cases, substantially in excess of the dietary reference value (level of intake designed to meet the requirements of the vast majority of the population) e.g. vitamin C doses of 120 mg are recommended as part of the basic dieters formula, but those who have hyperlipidemia are advised to take 500-15,000 mg of vitamin C. Consumption of vitamin C in excess of 1 g a day can result in diarrhea and kidney stones.

Phase 1 - induction

Carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 grams of carbohydrate a day. Meat, fish, fowl, full fat cheese, eggs, butter and oil are unlimited. Three cups of salad or two cups of salad and one cup of a non-starchy vegetable are permitted daily. Low fat dairy products, fruit, grains and starchy vegetables are excluded. Readers are advised to check for ketones in the urine after 48 hours on the induction diet. The induction diet should be followed for 14 days.

 

Phase 2 - ongoing weight loss

Carbohydrate-rich foods are added in portions containing 5 grams of carbohydrate until each individual finds their tolerance level (where ketones are still being produced and weight loss is still occurring).

Phase 3 - pre-maintenance

To start when a person is only 5-10 lbs above their target weight. Carbohydrate foods are added in until the rate of weight loss has slowed to less than one pound a week.

Phase 4 - maintenance

To start when the target weight has been reached. Carbohydrate foods can be added in until the weight is stable.