Atkins' Diet Research Paper

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ATKINS DIET

INTRODUCTION

In the past few decades, scientific opinion in regards to correct diet has favored the high carbohydrate and low-fat diet. This strategy has not been very successful since the number of people especially adults with obesity, heart disease, and diabetes has increased. The high carbohydrate and low fat have proven to be a poor way of watching body weight and human health. Recently a group of scientists and practitioners discovered a more convenient strategy; the low carbohydrate and high-fat diet, which has so far proven to be very reliable and advantageous. The Atkins diet, for instance, is a very famous low carbohydrate and high-fat diet. The Atkins diet offers foods and products with low carbohydrate and high fat. The diets restrict high consumption of carbohydrate while focusing their attention on improving the uptake of fats and proteins.  The main idea behind this diet is to increase weight loss and help maintain healthy body weight. Atkins diet has several phases, and the first and main phase is the low carbohydrate uptake plan (Atkins & Wannamethee, 2015.). The key concept behind the diet is to reduce carbohydrate, and not the amount of food one takes in a single meal.

ABC-MV & ATKIN'S DIET

ABC-MV diet focuses on getting the right combination of foods to prevent deficiencies in the diet. This helps the body in fighting chronic diseases that come due to lack of nutrients in the body. The ABC-MV stands for Adequacy, balance, calories control, moderation, and variety.

ADEQUACY

Water, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and other minerals are the nutrients contained in an adequate diet. An adequate diet helps the body growth, maintenance, and repair of worn out tissues and provides energy for normal body functioning. The Akins diet may restrict a lot of carbohydrates but ensures the diet contains all the six nutrients that help in body functioning. The food in a diet contains all the nutrients required by the body in one way or the other. This, therefore, reaches the adequacy principal.

BALANCE

The Atkins diet is a balanced diet because it contains all food nutrients or at least the most required nutrients by the body. The Atkins diet ensures that the nutrients are all present but to the required amount and not in excess. For instance, in phase two, the balancing phase, foods with excessing nutrients such as added sugar are avoided, but a healthy diet is still maintained.

CALORIES CONTROL

This phase matches the first phase of the Atkins diet where there is continued consumption of food with the required nutrients, but the food should contain little calories to help maintain the weight loss. For instance, in this phase, one can continue the consumption of food rich in proteins such as fish, eggs, poultry, and meat, but control the consumption of most fruits, baked sugary products, grains or nuts (Robbins, 2011). Therefore, the amount of energy required by the body must match the amount of energy giving food taken; the output should match the input.

MODERATION

Restricting one's diet in a way that they avoid eating foods rich in certain nutrients such as fats and sugar is not a guarantee that the person is healthy. However, taking a certain level of the nutrients in every meal ensures a healthy weight and body. In Atkins diet, there is no restriction toward consumption of certain food; the consumption level is however monitored to ensure that one takes the required amount of nutrients and not less or more. This is because a larger level prevents weight loss while a smaller level causes deficiency (Atkins & Wannamethee, 2015.).

VARIETY

A diet may have all the characteristics but still, lack variety of foods. The Atkins diet provides a variety of food and product which are rich in different or same nutrients. For instance, Atkins meals may consist of scrambled eggs with sautéed onions and cheddar cheese together with an acceptable beverage for breakfast, and Chef Salad with chicken, bacon and avocado dressing, along with an allowable beverage for lunch. A variety of foods is better than just the same food for the meals so long as all the nutrients are available.

DISCUSSION

Health associations have different opinions about the Atkins diet in accordance with the aim of the organizations. In most occasions, the diet is considered helpful because of its ability to trigger fast and easy weight loss. However, the organizations' opinions toward the diet are based on its health effects.

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

American heart association disagrees with the low carbohydrate and high-fat strategy employed by the Atkins diet claiming that those under this diet may gain weight once they stay on a diet for so long. The American Heart Association discourages protein intake because it can increase risks of one contracting heart disease. However, Dr. Atkins denied the claims by stating that one can only add weight if and only if he or she increases the intake of carbohydrates (Michael Greger, M.D., 2018). The dieter should maintain the diet, and if by any chance their tolerance level for carbohydrates allows them to take more carbohydrate without exceeding the level, then they should reduce fat consumption.

AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION (ADA)

American Dietetic Association disagrees with the fast weight loss strategy which involves Low-carbohydrate diets which they claim may increase blood uric acid concentration. The diets restrict consumption of carbohydrates but places no restriction on proteins and fats, and calories. This is very dangerous because it increases the amount of calories in the blood due to unsaturated fats or if the level of cholesterol is very high. Although weight loss is a guarantee in a low carbohydrate diet, the side effects of the diet are very hard to ignore (Michael Greger, M.D., 2018). For instance, deficiency in carbohydrates may lead to a frequent headache, fatigue, and nausea.  

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