Pros and Cons of the Atkins Diet

Popular and successful for many the Atkins diet is probably one of the most well known low carb diets. Often people do not even realize there are other low carb diets besides the Atkins diet, because of it's enormous commercial success. However, as with any diet the Atkins diet does have pros and cons associated with it's program. Knowing both the negative and positive aspects of the Atkins diet will help you decide whether it is right for you.

Pros
* Of course the number one pro for many is the foods you are allowed to eat. Foods that are consider off limits on other diets, like steak, butter and other fats are considered acceptable on the Atkins diet if eaten in moderation.

* If your body responds well to a low carb diet it can be beneficial to lowering blood pressure, blood glucose, triglyercides and it can increase your HDL cholesterol.

* Many people find that it is easier to integrate into their lifestyle than other diets. Once you have learned the basic principles of the diet it's fairly easy to follow without to much effort.

* The Atkins diet emphasizes finding the correct carb balance for each individual dieter. This emphasis on personalization makes the Atkins diet all the more effective.

Cons
* The carb counting is not much different than that of the calorie counting in other diets. To be successful you must count carbs every time you eat.

* The beginning of the Atkins diet can sometimes cause fatigue and agitation due to the sudden decrease in carbs. The programs does encourage increasing the intake of certain acceptable carbs in this situation, but still the experience can be unpleasant.

* Occasionally, people have difficulty transitioning away from phase one. Leaving behind the part of the Atkins diet that emphasizes a drastically low carb intake can lead to difficulty maintaining weight loss.

* Finding the right carb balance for long term weight loss maintenance can over all be a difficult process. While the program does offer support and suggestions in this area, it often becomes difficult for people to stick with the diet at this point.

Pro/Con
* The Atkins diet is very popular which can be a positive thing, because it increases the availability of support from fellow dieters. However, because the Atkins diet is so popular everyone has an opinion on it. Having to listen to negative opinions about the Atkins diet can be difficult at a time in your life when you really need moral support.