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Atkins Diet -- The Final Verdict
Supporters of the Atkins Diet claim that a low carbohydrate diet is a safe and effective method for losing weight. This article evaluates the low carbohydrate diet and specifically the claims made about ketosis. The Low Carb-Ketosis Link By severely limiting carbohydrates in your diet, the main energy source used by your body, glucose, drops to low levels. In return, insulin levels also drop. With low glucose and low insulin levels, the body turns to alternative sources of energy. Because of a significant change in your body's chemistry when on the Atkins Diet, certain metabolic pathways are turned "on" that are normally not "on" or run at very low levels. One such pathway involves the breakdown of fat, called Beta-Oxidation of Fats. Now, normally fats are broken down to produce energy when your body senses a need. But in the context of a low Carb diet, the normal breakdown pathway of fats is altered and an alternative pathway kicks in. This alternative pathway produces what are called ketone bodies. Ketosis is the term used to describe when ketone bodies are circulating in your bloodstream. The ketone bodies can be used as alternative sources of energy by, most importantly, your brain. In case you might be curious, the three ketone bodies produced by this alternative pathway for breaking down fat are acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone. These ketone bodies are formed in your liver and then are transported to other tissues, mainly the brain. In your brain, they are converted back to a form that can provide direct energy during times of starvation. Here is the whole process... So, the Atkins Diet (and any low Carb diet) produces a low energy state (low glucose) that causes the breakdown fat using an alternative pathway that leads to the development of ketosis. So far it sounds pretty good. By limiting Carbs in your diet, you can essentially force your body into breaking down stored fat, the very thing you need to get rid of to lose weight. But there are problems... Atkins Diet and Toxicity Ketone bodies are toxic. Many supporters of low Carb diets claim that ketosis is safe. They state that they are natural byproducts of fat breakdown and even babies have high levels of circulating ketone bodies. First, they are not natural by-products of fat metabolism. The normal beta-oxidation of fats does produce ketone bodies but these are incorporated into the normal cycle of energy production, called the Krebs cycle. When ketone bodies are circulating in your bloodstream, it signals an abnormal physiologic state, called starvation. They are not incorporated into the normal energy cycle, the Krebs cycle, and spill into the bloodstream. Just because your body has the ability to transport ketone bodies to certain tissues and then use them for energy, does not make it a normal process. It is an alternative pathway that turns "on" only when your body is faced with depleted levels of the main energy source, glucose. Secondly, babies are not small adults. A baby's liver and brain tissue are made up of different chemicals and pathways, specifically geared to handle the high fat diet coming from mother's milk. These pathways change as a baby grows and starts to eat other foods. Eventually, the normal adult pathways are set up and the infantile chemistry used as evidence to support the safety of ketosis, stop working. But this is not even related to the fact that ketone bodies are toxic. In medicine, the three ketone bodies mentioned above are classified as toxic acidic chemicals. At high levels, they can cause your blood to become too acidic, a disease state called ketoacidosis. Granted, this is rare because most of the ketone bodies will be used by the brain as an energy source. Ketoacidosis is usually seen in type 1 diabetics. It is a medical emergency. So, is ketosis dangerous to your body? Yes and no. Yes, ketosis represents a state of starvation. Losing weight when the body thinks you're starving is the best way to guarantee weight regain. The weight will come back and come back as fat. No, ketosis will not cause ketoacidosis in non-diabetics. And as long as you have a large storage of fat, your brain will not starve for energy. The Final Verdict However, it is well known that microscopic damage can occur to the kidneys effecting their ability to filter the blood. But clinical signs of this damage may take several years to manifest. Chronic renal insufficiency is a concern for ketogenic dieters, which may cause problems in the years to come. Conclusion Atkins Diet and other ketogenic diets (low Carb) can be safe and effective in causing weight loss. However, I recommend keeping ketosis to a minimum and keep your carbohydrate intake above 50 grams a day. Don't follow the suggestions for reaching an "induction" phase. It's not necessary to turn "on" the alternative pathways described above and burn fat. Remember, healthy weight loss is to burn fat and fat only. But it also involves keeping your rate of weight loss around 2-3 pounds/week. The induction phase promoted by the Atkins Diet can result in a rate of weight loss far greater than 2-3 pounds/week. It may sound good to you now, but how does gaining it all back as fat sound? Because that will happen if you lose weight too fast. For more information on ways to experience healthy weight loss, visit To Healthy Living! Dr. Michael A. Smith Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant to Diet Basics, a content rich weight loss site dedicated to all dieters fighting to lose weight. Please visit his site at...Diet Basics
MORE RESOURCES: Weight Loss Drugs Changed Their Lives. Then They Lost Coverage. The New York Times WHO scientists endorse weight loss drugs for controlling obesity: What does it mean for therapies? The Indian Express ‘Was working on myself quite extensively’: Ram Kapoor shares photos after dramatic weight loss; tips on achieving sustainable fitness in middle age The Indian Express How to lose stubborn belly fat before wedding: Nutritionist shares simple weight loss plan to shed 2-3 kg in 10 days Hindustan Times Stanford Scientists Rewrite the Ketosis Rulebook: Metabolites That Suppress Hunger and Promote Weight Loss SciTechDaily FDA approves Zepbound® (tirzepatide) as the first and only prescription medicine for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity Investors | Eli Lilly and Company FDA approves weight-loss drug Zepbound to treat sleep apnea The Washington Post Weight Loss Drug Tirzepatide Now Approved for Sleep Apnea in Adults With Obesity AJMC.com Managed Markets Network Novo’s CagriSema Blunder Underscores Sky-High Investor Expectations for Weight Loss Drugs - BioSpace Are Weight-Loss Drugs Causing a Rift in Your Relationship? We Want to Hear About It. The New York Times Meghan Trainor Says This Strength Routine 'Changed' Her Life Women's Health Risks of weight loss medication breaks FOX 13 Seattle FDA reaffirms Eli Lilly weight-loss drug is no longer in shortage The Washington Post Novo Nordisk stock plunges 20% after a trial of its latest weight loss drug disappoints Markets Insider Wellness Wednesday: Weight loss resolutions newschannel20.com FDA Approves Weight-Loss Drug Zepbound for Sleep Apnea The Daily Beast Novo Crashes 18% After Next-Gen Obesity Drug Misses Its Mark Investor's Business Daily THIS weight-loss drug becomes first to gain approval for treating sleep apnea; details here | Mint Mint Is Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) the Best Weight Loss Stock to Buy Now According to Hedge Funds? Yahoo Finance Best way to avoid weight gain when eating out: Nutritionist reveals clever restaurant hack; says you should drink... Hindustan Times FDA confirms shortage of weight loss drug tirzepatide is over, gives compounders a grace period STAT Reason behind Diddy's drastic weight loss behind bars as lonely Christmas approaches - The Mirror US IBD 50's Hims Tumbles On Bad News For Weight-Loss Drug Investor's Business Daily Opinion: Weight-loss drugs are great, but real food still matters Los Angeles Times Weight loss drugs are getting people to the doctor. Now comes the wave of long-ignored diagnoses Quartz Lilly's Zepbound® (tirzepatide) superior to Wegovy® (semaglutide) in head-to-head trial showing an average weight loss of 20.2% vs. 13.7% Investors | Eli Lilly and Company US obesity rates drop for 1st time in a decade, with possible help from weight loss medications ABC News Novo Nordisk stock price takes a tumble after the Wegovy maker's next-generation weight-loss drug underwhelms Fast Company The Download: shaking up neural networks, and the rise of weight-loss drugs MIT Technology Review Diddy stuns with dramatic ‘weight loss, grayer’ look at new court hearing, reporter claims Hindustan Times Updated: Novo’s 23% weight loss with CagriSema falls short of high expectations, new trial planned Endpoints News |
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