On the Atkins diet, a person eats all the fat and protein they want but avoids carbohydrates. The aim is to lose weight and improve health. Dr. Robert Atkins, an American cardiologist, created the diet in the early 1970s. It has evolved over time and now encourages people to eat more high fibre vegetables and do more exercise than it did in the past.

According to Dr. Atkins, the main reason for weight gain is the consumption of refined carbohydrates, or carbs, especially sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and flour. When a person follows the Atkins Diet, their body’s metabolism switches from burning glucose, or sugar, as fuel to burning stored body fat. This switch is called ketosis.

When glucose levels are low, insulin levels are also low, and ketosis occurs. In other words, when glucose levels are low, the body switches to using its fat stores, as well as dietary fat, for energy. In theory, this can help a person lose body fat and weight.

Before a person eats, their glucose levels are low, so their insulin levels are also low. When that person eats, their glucose levels rise, and the body produces more insulin to help it use glucose. The Atkins diet is a low carb diet where the body burns more calories than on other diets because ketosis occurs. It is a kind of ketogenic diet, though protein intake is typically higher, and fat is lower in comparison to a traditional ketogenic diet.  See 1000 atkins diet recipes to help you get started .

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