A fad diet is a weight loss plan devised to offer quick results. These diets are not considered healthy by various health and diet associations since fad diets are not based on the guidelines provided. In most cases, fad diets do not give long-term success to the users (Rastogi 60). Atkins’s diet is a low carbohydrate diet developed by Robert Atkins to control his weight problem. Atkins’s diet restricts carbohydrates consumption but recommends the consumption of large amounts of proteins and fats that results in the body breaking down muscle and fat for energy (Mini 103).
Standardized dietary reference is the recommended diet, which includes a healthy eating guide of a variety of foods. To present the dietary recommendations clearly, the standardized dietary reference uses a food pyramid. It shows the recommended servings of proteins, dairy foods, fats, sugars, fruits, vegetables and grains. At the base, the pyramid presents foods needed more in a given day and at the narrow tip, it presents foods that should be eaten sparingly (Faiella 28).
The Atkins food diet is generally low in carbohydrates and high in proteins and fats while the standardized dietary food reference states that a healthy diet should include plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, dairy foods and a small number of fats and oils. The Atkins diet works by burning less refined carbohydrates for more fuel and fat. To engage in the Atkins diet, it is essential to follow a series of steps that begin with cutting carbohydrates by eating vitamins and proteins. After the first stage, the Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) stage follows where vitamins may be added to the diet in large amounts. Other foods can also be added every week for a period of nine weeks (Newman 15).
I would not recommend the Atkins Popular Fad Diet as it restricts the consumption of carbohydrates that decrease one’s appetite and induce ketosis. This may cause nausea and fatigue. Ketosis may also deteriorate a present medical condition, such as kidney disease. Low carbohydrate diets also increase the risk of osteoporosis, kidney stones, coronary heart disease, cancer, gout and high blood pressure (Marcus 183).
Atkins Diet also recommends a high-fat diet that increases cardiovascular diseases (Rolfes, Pinna, and Whitney 307). High-fat diets can cause obesity and also increase the risk of cancers, such as prostate, breast, and coronary cancer. A reduction of high-fat diets reduces the risk of diseases and offers health benefits.
Atkins fad diet promises a quick weight loss in a short term. After the program ends, it fails to give a weight maintenance strategy. A healthy diet is established by its ability to support good health and keep up a weight loss over time. It also requires lasting life style changes in activity and eating habits. The goal of a particular diet should be to give health and fitness over time and not simply weight loss. A healthy plan can be slow as it allows a variety of foods and strategies, but it yields long-term results (Rolfes, Pinna, and Whitney 306).
Atkins Fad Diet does not encourage viable lifestyle changes and behaviors, such as physical exercises. A healthy weight loss program should include behavior change programs to correct poor eating habits and physical activities that will help burn excessive fat and keep fit (Rolfes, Pinna, and Whitney 308).
Works Cited
Faiella, Graham. The Food Pyramid and Basic Nutrition: Assembling the Building Blocks of a Healthy Diet. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2005. Web.
Marcus, Jacquline B. Culinary Nutrition: The Science and Practice of Healthy Cooking. Oxford: Academic Press, 2013. Web.
Mini, Sheth and Nirali Shah. Scientific Way to Managing Obesity. Sydney: Sterling Publishers, 2006. Web.
Newman, Jill. Fad Diet Fiascos: Exploring the Fad Diets that Do More Harm than Good. N.p., n.d. Web. 2015.
Rastogi, Shweta. Eat Right To Stay Bright: Manage Diet To Manage Disease. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan, 2010. Web.
Rolfes, Sharon, Kathryn Pinna, and Ellie Whitney. Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition. London: Cengage Learning, 2011. Web.