Atkins Review

Atkins.  It's very extreme in the diet that it poses.  All meat, eggs, cheese all the time.  Hardly any or no carbs.  Sounds great for those couch potatoes, right?  But is it a good system long term?

Any diet, be it Atkins or South Beach or any number of the others, should consider the moderation rule.  You shouldn't cut anything out of your diet to extremes.  Even Vegans (vegetarians who do not believe in eating dairy or egg products) still have to supplement their calcium and protein intake since their diets are so restrictive.

Health risks to consider:

High protein diet (such as the Atkins) can cause Acidic urine.  This leads to leaching calcium from the body and significantly increases one's risk for kidney stones and Osteoporosis and even Gall Bladder Disease.

High Cholesterol

Other Factors to take in:

A very strict diet that most cannot adhere to. 

Weight loss isn't what it's cracked up to be.  The average weight loss for Atkin's dieters is 15.4 lbs in 6 months.  Over a year the total weight loss is only 9.7lbs. 

The Atkins diet starts by telling you to limit foods that have been proven to be healthy for a normal diet. 

I reccommend that you speak with your phsycian before starting any diet out there.  There are special tests that can be run to help you choose which will best fit you and your lifestyle. 

Exercise, keep a journal, don't forget to let yourself indulge SLIGHTLY and every once in a while, keep it real.  You will lose the weight.