"Hey guys,
Atkins will help you lose weight but remember it causes plaque in the arteries, since your eating meat. Which can cause heart disease.... If you want or need protein in the diet go for the vegetable protein or soy protein which is much more healthier....."


I do not believe this is true. In the early part of the century before refined carbohydrates were eaten like they are today, protein and fat intake were just as high as the average diet today. Yet heart problems associated with clogged arteries were quite rare. The main difference today is the increase in refined foods. So as long as loose associations are made, refined foods should be a worthy culprit.

The only problem I see with a high protein diet is that processed meats should be eaten less and less as the diet goes on. This way, the nitrates which are probably cancer risks will be gradually taken out of the diet and replaced with fish, chicken and red meat prepared in various ways.

Close inspection of the Atkins diet shows that it is not just eating meat. This is a common misconception some people have. In the beginning meat is the primary food source, but if you read the book and follow the directions you'll see that there are vegetables included gradually increasing. Once a person reaches a point where they are in maintenance, then they increase their intake of non-refined foods such as a variety of vegetables. Even so, unless someone has familial conditions of hypercholesterolemia there is little chance that dietary meat intake is going to negatively affect them.

There is literally no evidence that eating a diet consisting primarily of meat, vegetables and occasional fruit is dangerous. Conversely, refined carbohydrates breaks down into certain varieties of triglycerides, which increase the viscosity of blood and contribute to heart problems over time. To say that meat is dangerous compared to sugar is not true. Additionally, being overweight is nearly a guarantee of complications at some point in time such as type 2 diabetes, heart problems, etc. Yet diets high in meat have not conclusively been shown to be unhealthy. Remember that vegetarians get sick also, even those who are vegetarian and don't eat refined foods.

The healthiest diet I have ever researched is probably the most difficult to follow. It is where ALL food is eaten in the raw state and all food is prepared at home from 100% natural sources. I don't do this and I don't advocate it because it is so impossibly hard to follow. Anyone following this type of diet should do so only under direct supervision from someone who knows how it should be done.

Soy is fine in moderation, but is far from being proved to be safe.

I would suggest lowering the intake of not only refined carbohydrates, but also trans fats such as margarine and solidified cooking oils, as these things can lead to damage of the intimal layer of blood vessels and other problems.

I think the Atkins diet is a fantastic way to lose weight and get healthier. I have seen a tremendous number of people who were not only overweight, but people with blood sugar problems, anxiety, and other diseases and conditions do remarkably well following this type of diet.

Any diet should be done with your doctor's blessing.

Congratulations to those who have done well on this diet.


As for slowed weight loss, I'm not sure if has been mentioned here before, but sometimes a cheat meal or even a cheat day can help jump start the metabolism and help restart the weight loss. Not always, but it can do the trick for some people. Looking more closely at things like total calorie intake, hidden carbs, etc. are also good to do when weight loss slows.