Atkins Diet Pros and Cons

The Atkins Diet has been one of the more popular diets developed over the past half century and today people around the world use this diet to lose excess fat. While the success rate for the diet has certainly been noted, so have the shortcomings as well. For many, it is a diet that offers a great number of restrictions, but does come with many benefits as well. Like any restrictive diet program, this particular diet has a number of pros and cons that will need to be considered before you decide to follow the plan.

The Pros of the Atkins Diet

1. Eliminate Refined Carbohydrates
One of the biggest reasons that people gain weight is their consumption of refined carbohydrates, such as you would find in white bread and cakes. The Adkins diet however eliminates all such carbs from the diet. Because so many gain and retain their excess weight because of these carbs, not eating them may cause a quick shedding of fat from the body.

2. Improved Cholesterol Levels
Although it does seem counter-intuitive given all the meat that is consumed, dieters will actually improve their cholesterol levels when on this diet despite the high levels of fat that is consumed. Obviously, exercise is an important part of helping to keep the cholesterol down, but this diet does manage to lower the “bad” or LDL cholesterol levels.

3. Men Prefer It
Many men enjoy eating this meat-oriented diet as part of their meals. It is something that men have grown accustomed to when growing up and this only accentuates the effectiveness of staying on this diet program.

4. Easy to Adjust Carbohydrate Levels
Because of the very low intake of bad carbohydrates, it is really easy for dieters to find the right levels of carbohydrates that suits them best in this diet program.

The Cons of the Atkins Diet

1. Not Enough Carbs
Because of the lack of carbohydrates, the body is forced into ketosis which places a heavy burden on the kidneys. The addition of complex carbohydrates in some form is needed to offset the effects of ketosis.

2. Vitamin Deficiency
Because you are not eating enough fruits, vegetables and whole grains, your body will suffer from the lack of vitamins. However, this can be supplied with vitamin supplements on a daily basis.

3. Side Effects
Although the severe side effects from the diet are rare, many dieters do suffer from dehydration, constipation and halitosis which can be quite annoying. Arguably the worst aspect of the diet is when it is finished, dieters who go back to eating the carbs will quickly gain back the weight and probably even more. For those who want to keep the weight off for good, this is not the best diet program for the job.