Five Misconceptions About Low-Carb Diets (I): the Atkins Diet

Misconception #1: Low-carb diets don`t work.If you’re looking for fast weight loss, then the Atkins diet is what you need. However, if you’re looking for long-lasting weight loss, then the Atkins diet offers the same results as most other diets. Studies showed that dieters who followed the Atkins diet gained weight after ending the diet, just like dieters who quit following other diets.Misconception #2: Research has definitively proved that the Atkins diet works.Research has actually proved that the Atkins diet works as well as other diets or even better for short-term weight loss. The Atkins diet, like many other diets, is not completely efficient, because it cannot guarantee permanent weight loss.Misconception #3: Studies showed that the Atkins diet doesn`t increase the level of cholesterol.Whether the Atkins diet increases the level of cholesterol or not is still being questioned. However, a recent study showed that people who followed the Akins diet had higher levels of HDL cholesterol, also known as the “good” cholesterol. Researchers still don’t have enough data to decide whether diets high in saturated fats are good or not.Misconception #4: With the Atkins diet, you`ll lose weightforever.The faster a diet makes you lose weight, the more difficult is to keep that weight off. Weight control can be achieved only with a balanced diet.Misconception #5: With the Atkins diet, you can eat as much as you want.This sounds good for those with hypoglycemia, cravings, and those who get hungry again soon after eating. However, it has not been proven that those who successfully follow the Atkins diet do in fact eat as much as they want. Moreover, no diet or food combination can disregard the law of calorie balance, according to which you need to burn more calories than you eat in order to lose weight.

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