What is the Atkins Diet? Reality of Atkins diet plan and Atkins recipes

Are you planning to lose your weight? Well, there are thousands of diet plans but it is very hard to pick one and follow it. One such diet plan is Atkins Diet. The Atkins Diet is a low carb diet, developed twenty years ago by American heart specialist, Dr Robert Atkins. He found, the diet he devised for his patients not only improved their heart conditions it also reduced their weight without food restriction. Dr Atkins realized that the carbohydrate restriction was forcing the body to 'change gear' and start preferring its fat stores to the food taken in as a source of energy.

This breakdown of fat stores produces ketones. The body excretes any ketones which are surplus to requirements, hence the ability to determine whether the body has started using its fat stores for energy by testing the urine for ketones.Weight lost under these conditions is mostly from the body's fat stores, rather than lean muscle. Purpose of the Atkins Diet is to change your eating habits to help lose weight. The Atkins Diet is also healthy lifelong approach to eating.

Whether you want to lose weight, boost your energy or improve health, it helps with high blood pressure or metabolic syndrome. The Atkins Diet has several phases for weight loss and maintenance, starting out with a very low carbohydrate eating plan. According to the Atkins Diet, obesity and related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, are the fault of the typical low-fat, high-carbohydrate American diet. It uses a system called net carbs, which is the total carbohydrate content of an item minus its fiber content. For example, a half-cup of raw broccoli has 2.3 grams of total carbs and 1.3 grams of fiber, putting its net carb value at 1 gram.

The Atkins Diet’s approach to carbs will burn off your body's fat stores, regulate your blood sugar and help you achieve optimal health, while not leaving you feeling hungry or deprived. Once you're at your Ideal weight, the Atkins Diet also helps you to identify your personal carbohydrate tolerance, the net carbs you can eat each day without gaining or losing weight.