Definition
The Atkins diet is a popular low-carbohydrate eating plan created in the 1960s by cardiologist Robert C. Atkins. This diet limits the amount of carbohydrates and focuses on foods with protein and fat.

The Atkins diet has several phases for weight loss and maintenance, starting with a very low-carbohydrate eating plan. The Atkins diet, formally called the Atkins nutritional approach, has been described in detail in many books, and is credited with launching the low-carbohydrate diet trend.

End
The purpose of the Atkins diet is to change your eating habits to help you lose weight and keep it off. The Atkins diet also says that it is a healthy approach for life, whether you want to lose weight, increase your energy, or help improve certain health problems, such as high blood pressure or metabolic syndrome.

Why You Should Follow the Atkins Diet
You may choose to follow the Atkins diet for the following reasons:

• Because you enjoy the types and amounts of foods that appear in the diet
• Because you want a diet that restricts certain carbohydrates to help you lose weight
• Because you want to change your general eating habits
• Because you have medical concerns that you think diet can help improve
• Because you like products related to the Atkins diet, like cookbooks, shakes and bars
• Check with your doctor or healthcare provider before starting any weight loss diet, especially if you have a medical condition, such as diabetes.

Diet details
The main focus of the Atkins diet is to maintain a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein and fat for optimal health and weight loss. According to the Atkins diet, obesity and related health problems like type 2 diabetes and heart disease are to blame for the typical low-fat, high-carbohydrate American diet. The Atkins diet says you don’t need to avoid fatty cuts of meat or cut excess fat. Rather, the important thing is to control carbohydrates.

The Atkins diet maintains that eating too many carbohydrates, especially sugar, white flour, and other refined carbohydrates, leads to blood glucose imbalances, weight gain, and cardiovascular problems. To that end, the Atkins diet restricts carbohydrates and encourages eating more protein and fat. However, the Atkins diet says it is not a high protein diet.

Like many meal plans, the Atkins diet continues to evolve. Today, it encourages eating more high-fiber vegetables, to accommodate vegetarian and vegan needs, and addresses health issues that can arise when starting a low-carb diet.

Carbohydrates
The Atkins diet does not require calorie counting or portion control. However, it does require you to keep track of the carbohydrates you eat. It uses a system called net carbs, which is the total carbohydrate content of an item minus its fiber content. For example, a half cup (4 ounces) of raw broccoli has 2.3 grams of total carbohydrates and 1.3 grams of fiber, so your net carbohydrate value is 1 gram.

The Atkins diet’s focus on carbohydrates will allow you to burn your body’s fat stores, regulate blood glucose, and help you achieve optimal health, but without starving or depriving yourself. Once you reach your ideal weight, the Atkins diet will also help you identify your personal carbohydrate tolerance – the number of grams of net carbohydrate you can eat each day without gaining or losing weight.

Exercise
The Atkins diet states that exercise is not vital for weight loss. However, it does recognize that exercise can help you maintain weight, as well as offer other health benefits.