Every low-carbohydrate diet has been under scrutiny once in a while. But none of them has been as disputed as Atkins diet plan.
The controversy revolves around the question of how a high-protein and high-fat diet is able to maintain good health. The experts charge Atkins diet especially with heart and kidney diseases.
Dr. Atkins dietary approach contains precautions for those interested in following this low-carbohydrate diet. In order to make his supporters aware of the rules, expectations and risks, Dr. Atkins recommended an evaluation of current health condition and medical assistance.
An Objective Health Self-Evaluation
In Dr. Atkins opinion, there are three categories of people who should control their carbohydrates. In order to identify if a person is one of these categories, he recommends three questionnaires. If someone finds out these simptoms, that means he/she has a carbohydrate problem and Atkins diet can be attempted.
Atkins diet plan suggests pursuing the following:
Food and Meals Behavior
How often, how much, how many fats and how many carbohydrates, heredity, metabolism, how many diets so far, the feeling around eating favourite meals, satiety, hunger.
If someone fits these questions, that suggests a metabolic problem regarding great difficulties in losing or gaining weight, satiety and hunger.
Craving After Particular Foods
Sweets, pasta, bread, high-carbs, mid-night snack habits.
Specific symptoms which dissapear at the very moment of having a meal: dizziness, whimsical mood, depresion for no reason, sleep difficulties, anxiety, palpitations, suddenly tired and in no mood.
If someone fits these, it may indicate a form of glucose intolerance (hypoglicemia).
Addiction to Certain Foods or Beverage
Consumption determines a much better condition. Experts called it individual food allergy. If the food or beverage is high-carbohydrate, then Atkins diet might be a solution.
Answering all these questions, anybody can find out if dr Atkins diet suits him or her.
Obtaining a Medical Approval
Blood-sugar test (or glucose-tolerance test), some kidney disease, blood chemistries and lipid levels are three issues to be considered by any person before undertaking dr. Atkins diet.
Blood Sugar Test
Glucose-tolerance test is to identify:
- blood-sugar or insulin imbalance (causing weight problems)
- a latent prediabetes
If the second situation is the case, attempting Dr. Atkins diet might be a far stronger reason. More than 16 million people are suffering from diabetes
Kidney Desease
Creatinine is a substance found in the blood, urine and muscle tissue. It is measured in blood and urine tests to determine the level of kidney function.
If the creatinine level is over 2.4, we talk about a severe kidney desease. This and a high-protein/high-fat diet are incompatible. There are suspicions that a high animal protein diet, combined to a low-carbohydrate diet lead to an increasing acid level. Kidney stones might appear as a result of a high acid level
Blood Chemistries and Lipid levels
Lipid levels (showing up total cholesterol) and current blood pressure must be considered, too. Not only for setting health condition before pursuing the Atkins diet but also, for setting up a baseline. The “before” state will be compared to “after” results. A carefully monitoring of the weight loss process is strongly suggested.