Atkins diet (advantages and disadvantages)

Among those who want to lose weight, Atkins diet, which belongs to the category of protein, has a special popularity. What is the essence of this diet, and can it really help losing weight?

The basis of the Atkins diet is the principle of protein nutrition. Mainly it consists of meat and fish products. The diet includes a small amount of fruits and vegetables, which absolutely can not balance the increased intake of protein and inadequate - carbohydrates and vitamins.

The protein diet of Atkins promises to its followers a weight loss of up to 8 kg in 14 days, and so many people, despite the fact that it is not shown to everyone, switch to a diet that is sometimes fraught with serious consequences. It is more suitable for fans of meat food, because the adherents of cereals, vegetables and sweet will still feel the need for their favorite products.

The real advantages of this diet can be attributed to the fact that weight loss in the transition to protein foods still occurs. It is remarkable that a person practically does not experience a painful sense of hunger. On the positive side, we can also assume that the return of lost weight will not occur at a pace like after other, more stringent diets.

Atkins diet also has a significant number of minuses. Whatever one may say, a diet with a predominance of protein foods can not be called balanced. With the restriction of the consumption of carbohydrates and fats, the body is deprived of vitamins, necessary macro- and microelements, fatty acids. The consequence of the deficiency of these substances are dull and brittle hair, brittle nails, overdried skin, a bad complexion, anxious sleep and excessive fatigue. The consumption of many vitamins in tablets is not an option in this case, since a large number of them are related to fat-soluble vitamins and with a lack of fat, they will not be absorbed by the body.

Another drawback is the increased burden on the kidneys. When you consume large amounts of protein food, the body quickly loses fluid, which is promoted by intensive kidney work. The way out of this situation is a significant increase in consumption during the day of various liquids. The Atkins diet leads to an increased consumption of calcium. Excess protein in the body increases the level of blood clotting, so this diet should not be used by the elderly.

Compared to many other dietary regimens, the Atkins diet is easily tolerated, so it can be observed once a year for 2 weeks.

Every day for 15 minutes before breakfast you need to drink 200 ml of water. Breakfast in the menu of this mode of food is always the same: coffee, with a small amount of low-fat milk. If you do not like coffee, drink any tea. You can use a small amount of fructose or sweetener. Eat skim curd or yogurt (100 g).

After 3 hours, eat any of the fruits (pear, apple, 5 plums, orange). After 2 hours, they take a lunch before which (in 10 minutes they drink 200 ml of water), which is chosen from these options:

- veal (100 g) on a grill or baked in an oven without oil and salt, boiled wild rice (2 handfuls), lettuce from lettuce and cucumber. For filling use soy sauce. Salad season with lemon juice and 1 tbsp. Spoon of olive oil.

- a small plate of soup with 2 thin slices of black bread, 2 tomatoes, mandarin, 3 dried fruits and tea;

- fish on the grill (150 g) and any of the previous side dishes.

After 2 hours, eat a little vegetables or an apple, and drink 200 ml of low-fat kefir. The resulting feeling of hunger is suppressed by green tea with mint.

Before supper again drink 200 ml of water and choose dishes from the proposed options:

- chicken without skin, baked in the oven (250 g), grapefruit;

- veal with garlic, baked in the oven (200 g), a little cauliflower and broccoli, cooked in a frying pan with soy sauce and a spoon of olive oil;

- fish cooked in the oven (150 g), salad from lettuce and tomato leaves, 2 cucumbers, some cedar nuts, 0.5 pepper of Bulgarian, egg (hard boiled).

A slice of black bread is served for dinner.