Ketone — the Key Basis Grounds of Atkins (ketogenic) Plan

Esentially, Atkins diet consists in a high-fat and high-protein food consumption, cutting out carbs and then gradually reintroducing them in very small amounts. And this is for life.

No doubts, there is a lack of balance here which concerned doctors and nutritionists from the beginning.

Atkins defied the calories theory. His diet pleads precisely on fat and protein foods, highly caloric. How does the Atkins diet work, though? According to Dr. Atkins, the cornerstone is ketone, an organic compound, derivative from organic acids.

Atkins key basis ground is producing of the ketones which force the human system to “eat” its own fat stocks, starting up the slimming process. This means that the human body goes to a state called ketosis.

Ketone is one of a large class of organic substances resembling the aldehydes, obtained by the distillation of certain salts of organic acids and consisting of CO united with two hydrocarbon radicals.

The presence of Ketone is responsible, in Dr. Atkins' opinion, for losing weight. The human body burns carbohydrates as well as fats to provide energy. Carbohydrates are the first fuel to be metabolized. Usually, the liver stocks glycogen (from glucose delivered by carbohydrates) to keep the glucose level in the bloodstream under control.

Meanwhile, fats are broken down into fatty acids released in the bloodstream through to a process called lypolisis. When carbohydrates are missing, the liver runs out of glycogen and is compelled to look for a glucose source somewhere else. This procces is called glyconeogenesis: converting aminoacids into glucose.

Once the liver begins to produce ketone bodies from fatty acids, the brain and nerve cells begin to partially burn ketones (that means fats) instead of glucose. Thus the human body is converted from a machine which uses carbohydrates as fuel for energy, to a machine using fats for energy. This process is called ketosis.
Once ketosis is induced, weight-loss occurs.

In fact, spectacular recent unveiled studies reveal that a high protein diet works by considerably lowering appetite and scarcely by inducing ketosis.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

According to their own website, the Atkins diet has four main benefits:

Weight Loss

Cutting out the carbohydrate intake the favourite energy source, the human body is forced to find another fuel tu burn, which is fat, its own fat.

Weight Maintenance

Atkins diet allows dieters to identify their own carbohydrate need. Eating the proper amount of carbohydrates, they neither gain nor lose weight.

Good Health

Atkins diet delivers a rich-nutrition food and dieters are told to take vitamins and supplements to cover the body's needs; thus, vitamin and minerals deficiencies are out of the question.

Disease Prevention

Eating proteins on a regular basis and avoiding carbohydrates, the output of insulin is more strictly controlled. Thus, you are less likely to suffer from diabetes. They are quickly satieted (they do not need to eat more or more often) and the crave for sweets and high-caloric foods is gone.

Drawbacks

According to the same website, the are two drawbacks, both occuring during the diet:

• bad breath
• constipation

There are also rumors that on a long term, Atkins diet may lead to strokes or heart diseases, relapse of kidney infections and high cholesterol, which are severe threats.

Why It Is So Popular

There are few advantages which have made Atkins diet so popular since 1972.

• Atkins diet plan gives its supporters free access to plenty of rich and savory foods. Only carbohydrates are banned in phase one, in order to force the human body to burn fats. This side is very satisfactory for dieters.
• Since so many foods are allowed, it's not difficult to undertake an Atkins nutrition plan. Unlike low-calorie diets which might deprive dieters of rich-nutrition foods, Atkins meals are easy to prepare. Meat, eggs, cheese, ham, bacon, mayonaisse are on the Atkins diet food list. Moreover, Atkins diet fast food was set up precisely for Atkins dieters. If carbohydrates are restricted, fibers aren't, so the options are even better.
• The feeling of hunger doesn't occur; appetite is also under control. Thus, dieters don't need to eat large amounts of foods.

Why It Is Not More Popular

Those on Atkins diet have already experienced a few disadvantages that can't be denied:

• Drop out rate is pretty high, despite what it is argued about Atkins diet
• Constipation and bowel problems might be a severe inconvenient
• Using fats as fuel for energy delivery results in a high level of uric acid, which can cause kidney ailments, gout and headaches
• High animal fat meals can cause high cholesterol levels and heart diseases. For this reason, the American Heart Association didn't approve the Atkins diet plan.