The Atkins Diet is the brainchild of Dr. Robert Atkins, a cardiologist who believed that restricting carbohydrates and emphasizing protein were the keys to weight loss and good health. The plan also calls for very limited amounts of caffeine and sugar, making the idea of dessert following a meal difficult--but not impossible.
History
Atkins invented his diet in the early 1970s in an effort to lose weight himself. He claimed that eating foods high in protein and limiting carbs caused the body to burn stored fat, as opposed to glucose, for energy. Other low-carb diets such as the South Beach Diet soon followed, all with the idea that carbohydrates and sugars are worse for your health than fat.
Menu
Followers of the Atkins Diet are free to eat from a wide array of protein-enriched foods, provided they are not breaded or fried. Poultry, seafood, beef and eggs are staples of the diet. Meanwhile, breads, pastas, fruits and starchy vegetables are strictly limited. The same goes for the type of sugar found in soda, ice cream, cake and cookies. The reason is that almost all sugary desserts are devoid of protein and loaded with carbs.
Side Effects
Since the Atkins plan all but eliminates sugar (both from fruit and processed foods) from the diet, followers can experience side effects ranging from headaches to constipation to a lack of energy. This is especially true during the first 2 weeks of the plan, also known as the "induction" phase. It is during this phase that carbs must be limited to more than 20 g per day, and sugars must be avoided altogether.
Desserts
While the Atkins plan initially offered no way for you to curb sugar cravings, it added a line of foods called the "Atkins Advantage" that can be consumed right from the beginning, many of which taste sweet but are low in sugar. Advantage foods include protein bars and shakes, and come in flavors ranging from chocolate to caramel to cinnamon to peanut butter fudge. The Atkins Diet book and website also offer recipes for desserts that are low in sugar, such as crepes, pudding and mousse.
Staying on the Diet
In the early years of the Atkins Diet, followers often struggled, or even went off the diet entirely, not because of the lack of carbs but because of a longing for something sweet. That changed with the introduction of the Atkins Advantage. Not only do foods in that line enable you to cure your sweet tooth, they also help you maintain the low-carb, no-sugar plan and are ideal for someone on the go.
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