Atkins Diet Dangers

Some health experts say that all low-carbohydrate diets are dangerous, and that a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet is the only safe way to lose weight. Because the Atkins Diet is one of the oldest and best-known low-carbohydrate diets, it receives a great deal of criticism. What are the dangers of the Atkins Diet, and should you be concerned?

High Fat

When you reduce the amount of carbohydrate in your diet, the amounts of protein and fat you are eating will naturally increase. When the Atkins Diet was first introduced, there was no distinction made between the different sources of fat in the diet. In fact, the popular conception of the diet at the time, and for some people even today, was that the diet was one of unlimited steak, bacon, eggs and butter. Today, the diet encourages leaner protein choices and healthy sources of fat, including nuts and seeds. Health experts have worried that consuming a diet high in fat will raise your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. A 2004 study at the University of Pennsylvania compared people who had been on either a low carbohydrate or low-fat diet for one year (see References below). The low-carbohydrate dieters lost more weight and their triglyceride and cholesterol levels decreased. They also had better hemoglobin A1c scores, which measure control over blood-sugar levels. So while the amount of fat you eat on the Atkins Diet may be high, it is not dangerous.

Low Fiber

Eating a diet that does not contain enough fiber can increase constipation, and may increase your long-term risk for diverticulitis or colon cancer. Is a low carbohydrate diet lacking in fiber? That depends on how well you follow the plan. If you eliminate too many carbohydrates from your diet, then yes, you will not be eating enough fiber. However, if you choose healthy vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds for your carbohydrate sources, as the diet plan recommends, you will get adequate fiber. At the pre-maintenance and maintenance phases of the diet, you are also allowed to consume whole grains, which are also sources of fiber.

Nutritional Inadequacy

When you are on any diet, you risk nutritional inadequacies because you are limiting your food intake. However, on the Atkins Diet, the only foods you are limiting are your carbohydrate choices. You should still be consuming healthy carbohydrates in the form of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and dairy. Some grain products, those from simple carbohydrates, will never be reintroduced to the diet. Simple carbohydrates include sugar, white flour and products made from white flour. However, complex carbohydrates are reintroduced to the diet; these include whole-grain cereals, whole- wheat breads, brown and wild rice, etc. If you are properly following the Atkins Diet Plan, you should be getting plenty of nutrition. A simple multivitamin-mineral supplement should fill in any nutritional gaps, and is recommended by the diet plan.