I am on the Atkins diet and need some information. What fruits are allowed on this diet.

These fruits contain the same nutritious elements as the common fruits and contribute as much to your diet: eggplant, egg-fruit, green pepper, hot pepper, avocado, red pepper, cucumber, tomato and zuchini.

These fruits are allowed even during the strict first 2 week induction period: green pepper, hot pepper, avocado, red pepper, cucumber. – 2 Tbspn lemon juice

These fruits are allowed after the first 2 weeks: eggplant, egg-fruit, green pepper, hot pepper, avocado, red pepper, cucumber, tomato and zuchini. – 2 Tbspn lemon juice

Berries can be included after 6 weeks & other fruit is allowed after 9 weeks.

The core of Atkins program is converting the body from glycolysis (burning glucose as fuel) to ketosis (burning fat as fuel). Dietary fat levels need to be at >65% of total calories, if not, the body will still remain in glycolysis by converting 58% of excess protein into glucose (via gluconeogenesis).

It takes minimum of 3 days to convert a body to ketosis, (but only one bite to convert back to glycolysis). People feel sluggish the first week but most feel better than ever thereafter.

Simple carbohydrates (sugar, flour, bread, cereal, pasta, potatoes, rice) trigger insulin which can store the calories eaten into fat. The more protein the more the fat burning hormone glucagon is released. The more carbohydrate the more the fat storage hormone insulin is released.

High insulin levels promote inflammation, weight gain, hunger & unbalance other hormones. Controlling insulin levels will balance out other hormones & allow human growth hormone (HGH) to be produced naturally so lean muscle will be gained even without exercise. Any exercise will greatly increase muscle mass with high HGH levels.

Dr.Atkins was a cardiologist, low carb was a health plan easier sold as a "diet" Read any of his books for easily understandable science. Normalizing blood pressure, blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, triglyercerides & hormone levels are all bonus features of doing a low carb way of eating. Lutz "Life without Bread" & Taubes "Good calories, Bad calories" are excellent books that dispel all the nutrition myths.

http://www.atkins.com/Program/FourPhases/WhatIsInduction/AcceptableFoodsList.aspx

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html

I wondered how not only educated persons but persons specifically educated in nutrition are promoting sugar as a food essential to health but I now know that anyone that goes against the current regulations can lose their license and be sued for malpractice (even though what they are doing IS malpractice but it’s accepted practice – sigh).

Additional contact methods:
Twitter: bowulf
Blog: http://www.network-admin.net
IM or Skype: Contact Me First
How to Atkins Diet TV:

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This is the next one in my series of Atkins Diet Misconceptions where I combat all myths and misunderstandings regarding low carbing. Another one of the oft-misunderstood low carb concepts is the whole difference between ketosis and the diabetic condition of ketoacidosis. It should be rather clear what the difference is between the two:
* one affects low carbers who are eating very few carbs and have consequently low to normal blood sugar levels
* one affects almost strictly Type 1 diabetics who can’t produce any or enough insulin for their hyperglycemia (very high blood sugar)

Even though they sound the same and both involve ketones in the blood, they are dramatically different in terms of severity and cause. Here are the amounts I spoke of in the video:
Dietary ketosis vs. diabetic hyperketoacidosis
Normal state: 0.1 mmol/L
Overnight fast: 0.3 mmol/L
Ketogenic diet: 1-3 mmol/L
21 day fast: 10 mmol/L
Uncontrolled diabetes: more than 25 mmol
You can see where the uncontrolled diabetic has nearly 10-20 times the millimoles of ketones in their blood as the ketogenic diet follower.

Ketosis is safe natural state for the body to be in. Many hunter and gatherers were in a ketogenic state for most of the winter months. It is simply the body’s reaction to burning fat for fuel, and ketones are the normal by-product of that reaction. Everyone is in some state of ketosis every day.

Additional info:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000537YG?ie=UTF8&tag=atkdiehowtovi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000537YG

http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/ketosis.html

http://www.lowcarbportal.com/archives/categories/low_carb_ketosis/index.php

Duration : 0:6:47

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Technorati Tags: Atkins, Bowulf, Carb, Diet, Different, Fitness, Ketoacidosis, Ketosis, Loss, Low, Obesity, Same, Weight

I`ve been on the Atkins low carb diet now for 4 days. I`ve lost 8lbs already (I`m on the induction phase) I understand that the initial weight loss will mostly be due to water loss but how can I be sure that my continued weight loss will be fat and not water. Atkins has been around for so many years and although I feel a bit nauseous from all the fat and protein consumption its basically the only diet I don’t feel hungry on.

There is no better way to bring the body to the state of optimal health than with a low carb way of eating. Low carb doesn’t cause high blood pressure, high blood sugar or high cholesterol, it cures it. It is actually dangerous to take meds that lower these levels and do low carb at the same time because the levels will become dangerously low. Carbohydrates trigger insulin. High insulin levels unbalance other hormones. Anything less that 9 grams of carbs per hour controls insulin and is considered low carb (up to 144 grams per day).

U.S. government guidelines were changed 35 years ago to suggest we lower our fat intake & increase our carb intake. American society followed these recommendations & lowered their fat intake by 11% & increased their carb consumption. In this same time frame obesity, diabetes, heart disease are all at epidemic levels. Through their direct effects on insulin & blood sugar, refined carbohydrates are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease & diabetes.

A low carbohydrate diet is a high fat diet. The protein should only be a little higher than adequate. Although it is completely possible to live on a fat/protein only diet for long term (as proven by research done in a hospital setting) it becomes boring fairly quickly. Luckily many vegetables & some fruits, nuts & seeds are low in carbs & greatly expand the diet. Most long term low carbers eat as many, if not more non starchy vegetables than vegetarians.

Glucose is the bodies preferred fuel (if you want to get technical, it actually burns alcohol most efficiently, but that doesn’t make it any healthier for the body than carbs), the body can convert 100% of carbs, 58% of protein & 10% of dietary fat into glucose. The body can also be fueled by fat (dietary fat & fat cells) but only in the absence of carbs. The brain actually prefers* to be fueled by ketones (part of the fat burning process), it does require glucose also, but glucose can be easily converted from excess protein if needed or dietary fat. Fatty acids are the preferred substrate for the heart muscle.

Plaque build up in the arteries is more attributable to carb consumption than dietary fats, which seems to be the conclusion of the following study. Carb consumption raises triglycerides & VLDL (bad cholesterol). Fats raise the HDL (good cholesterol). High triglyceride levels & low HDL levels are an indicator of plaque & glycation – the precursors to a heart attack & heart disease.

http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/after-eating-effects-carbohydrates-vs.html

study from the Oxford group examining the postprandial (after-eating) effects of a low-fat vs. low-carbohydrate diet. (Roberts R et al, 2008)

Postprandial lipoproteins, you’d think, would be plentiful after ingesting a large quantity of fat, since fat must be absorbed via chylomicrons into the bloodstream. But it’s carbohydrates that figure most prominently in determining the pattern and magnitude of postprandial triglycerides and lipoproteins. Much of this effect develops by way of de novo lipogenesis, the generation of new lipoproteins like VLDL after carbohydrate ingestion.

Gary Taubes who wrote "Good Calories, Bad Calories" spent 7 years going through all the studies over the last century & dividing up the real science from the faulty science & concluded that low carb was the best way to control insulin levels which balances out other hormones & allows the body to function properly.

His main points are:

1. Dietary fat, whether saturated or not, is not a cause of obesity, heart disease or any other chronic disease.

2. The problem is refined carbs in diet, their effect on insulin secretion & the hormonal regulation of homeostasis.

3. Sugars – sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup specifically – are particularly harmful, the combination of fructose & glucose simultaneously elevates insulin levels & overload liver with carbs.

4. Through their direct effects on insulin & blood sugar, refined carbs, starches, sugars are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease & diabetes. They are likely dietary causes of cancer, Alzheimer’s & other diseases.

5. Obesity is a disorder of excess fat accumulation, not overeating.

6. Consuming excess calories does not cause us to grow fatter.

7. Fattening & obesity are caused by an imbalance in the hormonal regulation of adipose tissue & fat metabolism. Fat synthesis & storage exceed the mobilization of fat from adipose tissue & its subsequent oxidation.

8. Insulin is the primary regulator of fat storage. When insulin levels fall, we release fat from fat tissue.

9. By stimulating insulin secretion, carbs make us fat.

10. By driving fat accumulation, carbs also increase hunger & decrease the amount of energy we expend in metabolism & physical activity.

In this video I discuss the subject of mental acuity and emotions on the Atkins Diet and the whole “Low Carb Zombies” myth.

Critics: “Low Carb Emotional Zombies”
Not only may the Atkins Diet impair mental functioning, it may impair emotional functioning as well. Researchers at MIT are afraid the Atkins Diet is likely to make many people–especially women–irritable and depressed.[197]
The Director of MIT’s distinguished Clinical Research Center measured the serotonin levels in the brains of 100 volunteers eating different diets.[198]

http://www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins/32/Emotional_Zombie.htm

It’s not unusual for people who are changing their eating patterns or embarking on any kind of diet to experience episodes of irritability. However, according to Psychology Today, many who are trying testing low-carbohydrate regimens are reporting unusually high feelings of anger, tension and depression. Dr. Wurtman claims that that it’s a very well documented response-she calls it the “Atkins attitude”.

http://www.geneva-health.com/sciencehealth/lowcarb.html

Check out the following sites:

http://www.jonnybowden.com/answers/2007/10/do-low-carb-diets-cause-depression.html

September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers from Australia decided to investigate diet and mood. They put 93 overweight or obese men and women on one of two diets- high-carb low- fat, or low-carb high-fat. The diets ranged from 1400-1700 calories a day, approximately 30% less than what the participants were used to. The study lasted 8 weeks. At the beginning of the study- and for every 2 weeks afterwards– participants were weighed, and also tested on three different standardized assessments of mood. They were also tested on memory and “Speed of cognitive processing”, a measure of how quickly they could perform simple mental tasks.

Here’s what the researchers found: Not surprisingly, the low-carb group lost significantly more weight. But everyone in both diet groups improved in mood, with no significant differences seen between the two groups. Memory was also the same in both groups, and both groups improved in “speed of cognitive processing” though the low carb group improved slightly less. (The researchers admitted that more studies were needed to see if that minor finding would be replicated.)

The ketogenic diet may have mood-stabilizing properties.

The ketogenic diet, originally introduced in the 1920s, has been undergoing a recent resurgence as an adjunctive treatment for refractory epilepsy, particularly in children. In this difficult-to-treat population, the diet exhibits remarkable efficacy with two-thirds showing significant reduction in seizure frequency and one-third becoming nearly seizure-free. There are several reasons to suspect that the ketogenic diet may also have utility as a mood stabilizer in bipolar illness. These include the observation that several anticonvulsant interventions may improve outcome in mood disorders.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11918434

http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/bps/article/PIIS0006322304010066/abstract

http://www.freewebs.com/stopped_our_statins/Diet%20-%20Ketogenic%20-%20Antidepressant%20Properties.pdf

Journal of Biological Psychiatry
Pages 981-983 (15 December 2004)
Results

The rats on the ketogenic diet spent less time immobile, suggesting that rats on the ketogenic diet, like rats treated with antidepressants, are less likely to exhibit behavioral despair.
Conclusions
It is concluded that the ketogenic diet may have antidepressant properties.

The Effects of a Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet and a Low-Fat Diet on Mood, Hunger, and Other Self-Reported Symptoms*
http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v15/n1/full/oby2007516a.html

Duration : 0:10:8

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Technorati Tags: Acuity, Atkins, Bipolar, Boot, Bowulf, Camp, Carb, depression, Diet, Low, Mental

I am currently studying the Atkins diet and it would help me if you could share with me your opinions both on the diet and the controversy surrounding it.

Thanks for helping me with the study.

None as not tried.

Eat only when hungry and not more than thrice a day. Nothing other than water in between. Include plenty of uncooked vegetables and fruits in each meal, preferably 50%. Chew each morsel at least 32 times to activate ur body to generate signals of hunger/fullness. Obey these signals.

Take light exercises and brisk walks regularly preferably twice a day.

U will achieve what u have not even dreamt and that too in a reasonable time. Do not be in a hurry.

Additional contact methods:
Twitter: bowulf
Blog: http://www.network-admin.net
IM or Skype: Contact Me First
How to Atkins Diet TV:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/how-to-atkins-diet-tv

In this video, I deal with the issue of planning and how to resist temptation with a tool that should be in every low carbers possession, especially new ones. That is a low carb emergency kit. This kit should help resist temptation by reminding you why you want to lose the weight and take care of any hunger pains.

What’s in it:
(Food)
* Beef Sticks — no sugar or corn syrup
* Summer Sausage
* Nuts (portioned 1 oz packages)
* String Cheese
* Protein Shake
* Flax granola / cookie

Non-food:
* Before Photo
* Why you want to lose the weight (Negative / Positive)
* List of the Atkins Induction Acceptable Foods List

Much thanks for ideas of the list to 2big4mysize and Laura Dolson (About.com low carb guide)

Duration : 0:8:32

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Technorati Tags: Atkins, Bowulf, Carb, Diet, Emergency, Fitness, Kit, Loss, Low, Obesity, Weight

How much did you lose per day? If you have a friend who lost weight on the atkins diet, write down how much they lost over how many days.

I was on my own variation of the Atkins diet years ago. During the first two weeks, I lost about ten pounds then I lost about 3 pounds a week, for a total loss of 35 pounds.

My variation stuck with the atkins diet except for one change. After the initial two weeks, I allowed myself one "splurge" day each week. I could eat whatever I wanted on that day. It worked because I wastn’t tempted to cheat throughout the week. I saved my cravings for my splurge day.

Atkins Diet Progress / Weigh-In Update – Day 49 – Disappointing.
Had some sushi today, so I had some not much, but some. I also had a Shrimp Tempura hand roll made with soy paper, but he shrimp was made with flour batter.

Duration : 0:2:47

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I just started the Atkins diet and I’m really hoping for positive results. Can anyone tell me about their experiences or point me to some good resources?

http://www.atkins.com/
I lost 20 pound in about 8 weeks on an Atkins-type diet. I modified the Atkins plan to include enough protein for my body weight, added a serving of complex carbs with each meal, and cut all sugar and simple carbs. I also cut down on sugars found in milk, and things like raisins and certain fruits.
If you try to cut ALL carbs, you’ll be sick in about 2 weeks. If you don’t get the right amount of protein for your body weight, it won’t work.

You can’t think of it as a diet, you have to call it a lifestyle change. Eating properly, with vegetables, proteins, healthy fats, complex carbs/whole grains, and limiting sugar, soda, caffeine, sweets, etc isn’t a diet–it’s a way of life.