Atkins Diet Basics

The Atkins diet has become quite an old trend now though it has become a recognized fact

among the health conscious as well as the dieters. Dr. Atkins’s New Diet Revolution book

discovered a whole new bunch of audience who had problems with low-fat diet plans. However,

we cannot say that everyone surrounded by this hype is familiar with the fundamental principles

of this diet plan.

Here are the important principles based on which the Atkins diet has been designed for giving

best results. The theory of the diet deals with why fats get accumulated in our body. As per the

study conducted by Dr. Atkins, too much consumption of simple sugars and carbohydrates

would lead to weight gain. In this regard, your waistline plays a vital role in the sense that more

than the calories and the quantity of fat we consume; it is the manner in which the

carbohydrates are processed, which matters. A phenomenon termed “insulin resistance” has

been explained by D. Atkins in this regard. He says that the main reason for many people being

overweight is because of improper working of the cells in their bodies.

Sugar levels tend to get elevated when too much of carbohydrates and sugar is consumed in

turn resulting in insulin being released from the pancreas. This happens because it is necessary

for storing sugar in the form of glycogen in the muscle cells and liver which is used later on

when extra energy is needed. But, glycogen can be stored only to a certain extent after which it

is converted into fat. Anyone who consumes too much of carbohydrates tend to face such a

situation.

On the other hand, individuals who are insulin resistant face tougher problems in storing and

using the excess carbohydrates consumed by them. Higher the level of insulin, higher is the

resistance. When the cells try to fight against the increasing level of insulin, they end up

producing more of fat and lesser amount of glycogen. The result of this is extra weight gain in

insulin resistant individuals.

Insulin resistant people have many more problems to face which includes fatigue, low blood

sugar (resulting in hypoglycaemia), brain fogging (loss of creativity, poor memory and inability to

focus), depression, high blood sugar and sleepiness.