Obesity has quickly become one of the largest health concerns all over the world. A stunning two thirds of Americans are considered overweight, while another 35% are considered obese. Genetic factors, overeating and the modern lifestyles have been attributed as the direct causes of the dramatic rise in obesity.
Why Obesity is so Worrying & What needs to be Done
There are many significant health factors that are a direct result of obesity, including high blood pressure, diabetes and major knee problems. If left untreated, obesity can results in more serious health issues including stroke and heart disease. Obesity can also lower your life expectancy and is often the culprit in reproductive problems in women.
The only good thing about obesity if at all there is one, is the fact that it can be prevented. Irrespective of the cause of obesity, a healthy lifestyle is a must for weight loss.
How the Atkins Diet Came About
Dr. Robert Atkins began to address the problem of obesity in 1963, when he realized that most people consume carbohydrates in the form of grains. These carbohydrates are converted to energy, which helps the body to function in our day-to-day lives, however, the excess carbohydrates get stored as fat in the body and this, according to Dr. Atkins is the main cause of obesity.
This realization led to the Atkins Diet, which put forth a solution that was flexible, easy to implement and most importantly effective. Over the years, millions of people who have lost weight have attributed it to the Atkins Diet.
How Does the Atkins Diet Work?
The Atkins Diet promotes the concept that most people require far fewer carbohydrates and much more protein than they currently consume. Since there are fewer carbohydrates, the body is forced to burn fat for energy. Essentially what happens is, the body goes from a machine that uses carbohydrates for energy to a one that uses fat. When this happens weight is the inevitable result and that too, without a lot of the side effects of most other diets.
The Food Pyramid & the Atkins Diet
The food pyramid is an important aspect of the Atkins Diet. When you look at a food pyramid, you can see there are five levels and as you move up the pyramid, each level decreases in size. Foods on the bottom level, such as fish, beef, pork, eggs and soy products are the main components in the Atkins Diet. Next are vegetables, followed by fruits. Oils and dairy products are on the fourth level, while grains and other carbohydrates are at the top. This means they should be the smallest group of food consumed while on the Atkins Diet.
The Atkins Diet & Carbohydrates
Many people think that they will not be able to have any carbohydrates while on the Atkins Diet and this is not true. AS you increase your physical activity, you can increase the amount of carbohydrates you consume, without seeing an increase in your weight.
There are also many products available that contain few carbohydrates, such as New Hope Mills Sugar Free Pancake and Waffle Mix and Atkins Diet-Adkins Answer Breakfast Bars that will make help ease the cravings for carbohydrates. Other features of the program include no added sugars or hydrogenated oils. This will not only affect your weight loss but by lowering the amount of these substances, you will also reduce your risk of heart disease and in some cases, cancer.
The key to making the Atkins Diet work for you is to follow the guidelines. This not only will help to increase the rate of weight loss but help you to lead a healthier life as well.