The Atkins Diet Pros And Cons - What The Experts Don't Tell You About The Atkins Diet!

No one would participate in any dieting plan without seeing the potential pros and cons of it. The Atkins diet is no exception to this and one should carefully research the Atkins diet pros and cons before proceeding with it. Atkins diet pros include rapid weight loss, improved health, reduced risk of disease and methods to maintain weight. But the most popular in the list of Atkins diet benefits is that of rapid initial weight loss, which mainly depends on a high-fat and high-protein diet that may lead to cons and may compromise a good cardiac and other organ health.

Atkins Diet Pros

Atkins diet pros are realized through the cutting down of the intake of bad carbohydrates into your body. By significantly reducing the bad carbohydrates that you introduce into your body, it will start to burn the stored fat triggered by a processed named Ketosis. In fact, initially, practically all carbohydrates will be removed from the diet--not just those found in junk food. You are basically consuming mostly fats and oils during the first phase. For most of us, eating high levels of fat is satisfying for us and causes us to lose weight faster. Don't just eat any type of fatty food however. Limit the intake of trans-fats such as what is found in margarine and shortening. Stick to the good fats such as real butter, oils in nuts, canola oil, flax seed, and olive oil. Try to also stay away from the polyunsaturated fats other then those containing omega-3 fatty acids (like what is in fish).

Another of the Atkins diet benefits is the plan within its program to maintain the weight levels achieved. The idea behind weight maintenance is that each individual has a particular level of carbohydrate intake in which they will neither lose nor gain weight. So after the initial phase of rapid weight loss, some carbohydrates are gradually introduced back into the body in order to determine what that level of balance is.

Another of the Atkins diet pros is the prevention of diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes. In simple terms, a high-protein and high-fat diet does not convert into sugar resulting in a stabilization of the blood sugar and insulin levels within the bloodstream. Patients who are pre-diabetic can possibly avoid having to take insulin shots in the future by losing weight through the Atkins diet now.

One of the most pleasant Atkins diet benefits is the fact that you start to look better and feel better not only in your self-esteem but physically as well. Patients who had chronic acid reflux and bloating from gas report that these symptoms begin to disappear once going on the Atkins diet. This is just because you are eating healthier and you weight is going down resulting in less pressure on your gastrointestinal system.

Atkins Diet Cons

The Atkins Diet is a popular and fast way to lose a lot of weight fast - there're many who give positive testimonials as to how much they did lose and how much better they feel. However one should be aware of the Atkins diet pros and cons before pursuing this diet. This is why knowing the Atkins Diet pros and cons are so important! Of the Atkins diet cons, the often asked about is the danger of a high-fat and high-protein diet in relation to good cardiac and other organ health.

Affecting the proper functioning of kidneys is one of the Atkins diet cons not too often discussed. A measure of good kidney function is the level of creatinine in the bloodstream. A high creatinine level means that the kidneys are not functioning as well. It has been determined that creatinine levels increase as a person is on the Atkins diet. Recommendations indicate that creatinine levels should be below 3.0. Any creatinine levels higher than that should be managed by a physician.

There is also the risk of calcium loss that is one of the Atkins diet cons. Calcium loss can result in the weakening of the bones or what is known as Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a loss of the healthy density in the bones and the bones become brittle and break easily. If the protein intake remains high as in the Atkins diet, the calcium intake will be low. Reductions in bone loss can also be attributed to the ratio of animal to vegetable protein intake.

Another of the Atkins diet cons is the effect it has on persons suffering from gout. Gout is a form of arthritis and it is triggered by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. The condition in the Atkins diet known as ketosis is where the body starts burning stored fat. You want to go into ketosis or else the initial fast weight loss characteristic of the Atkins diet. As Ketones increase in your system, uric acid levels also increase and this is what complicates the gout.

Another common complaint from those on the Atkins diet is constipation. This is because there is a lack of fiber in this type of diet and fiber is what you need in order to give substance to a stool for passing. You might need to take some fiber supplements to help prevent this condition. There is also the increase of the risk of heart disease because of higher cholesterol and saturated fat intake.

The Atkins Diet pros and cons should be carefully considered before determining if this is the right diet for you. It can be a very effective diet but just make sure it will not put you at unnecessary risk.


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Top 7 High Protein Foods

Why is protein important?

Protein makes up every cell in your body; your nails, bones, skin and hair are practically all protein. But protein does even more than that, helping to create enzymes, hormones and other physiological chemicals needed for the proper functioning of your body. So you can probably see why it's important that you get the right amount of protein to function.

Another aspect of protein is that it cannot be stored in your body, like carbohydrates and fat, so once it runs low there are no reserves for your body to take from. Experts state you need at least 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Below are some excellent sources of protein.

1. Salted cod

The protein content of fresh cod is considerable (around 20g) but the salted cod is a real protein concentrate with a contribution of 75g per 100g. A small portion of salted cod is sufficient to meet your daily needs for protein.

2. Fresh tuna

Fresh tuna is another animal protein source that provides 21,5g of protein per 100g. Similar to those of other fish such as salmon, halibut or sea bass, these endless sources of protein can bring diversity to your dishes.

Chicken breast / turkey: both lean poultry hover around the same amount of protein content. They both have about 22g per 100g. The difference lies in the fat intake, which is lower in the case of turkey meat.

3. Beef

Lean beef protein is around 21g per 100g. If you're not sure whether to go for red meat or white, choose a combination of the two:

4. Beef liver

Beef again, but this time in the form of liver. This is a another great source of protein: 19,4g / 100g. A good option to add not only for proteins, but also for adding folic acid, iron and zinc to your diet.

5. Seafoods such as prawns

Seafood is always a good source of animal protein, and specifically the prawns coming in at 24g of protein with only 0.8 grams of fat and a tiny 100kcal per 100g of food. A perfect choice for dieters.

6. Soybeans

Protein is not just or the meat eaters. Soybeans are legume that have more protein and less carbohydrate. Among the vegetable protein content is 3 0g per 100g of product.

You can also choose products like Tofu or Quinoa as a vegetable protein source. And there are nuts such as almonds and pistachios which have 20 g of protein along with a healthy dose of omega 3.

7. Gelatine

Gelatine is the star regarding food protein percentage. 100g of gelatin containing no less than about 84g protein. There are plenty of commercial varieties of gelatin, so it's important to look at the packets nutritional information to choose the right option for you.

Always remember your caloric intake when choosing your protein and remember balance is key.

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Wild Salmon Vs Farm Raised Salmon

Many people don't know the difference between wild salmon and farm raised salmon. For example, when you go to the grocery store and see fresh wild salmon fillets it is usually not from the Pacific Ocean. The fillets came from the Atlantic Ocean where they have farms, that raise salmon that were wild at one point in time and were given special formulated feed in a fish farm. True wild salmon thrive out in the Pacific Ocean. They are born in a stream, swim out to the ocean, grow in the ocean, swim back to where they were hatched from, mate, lay eggs, and will shortly end up dying afterwords.

Atlantic Salmon are placed in a hatchery, grow, and feed in a restricted area, majority of the time they are turned into commercial food products and are exported across the world to other countries or in grocery stores. This Atlantic Ocean process of salmon hatchery is called aquaculture and is done in other countries and places like, The Great Lakes. In the United States the salmon farms make approximately is higher than 80 percent of the salmon that are on the market each day. Thirty percent comes from the traditional hatcheries and the other fifty percent are raised in aquaculture or open pen nets off shore. These farms can raise up to one million salmon a time. The farmed salmon are confined, fed a steady diet of special formulated protein food pellets, and when they eat it, they become fatter than wild salmon, with not much more omega-3 than expected, but actually less per every three ounces.

Farm raised salmon don't have as healthy amount of fatty acids as wild salmon does. Carcinogenic chemicals are found in farmed raised salmon and are purchased from U.S. Grocery stores have so much higher levels of PCB that pose an increased risk for cancer. The United States has banned PCB to be used in all items, but they persist in the environment and end up in animal fat. When the farmed salmon from U.S. Grocery stores were tested, their salmon that was farmed contained up to twice the fat of wild salmon. The test also found sixteen times the PCB compared to those found wild salmon, four times the levels in beef, and 3.4 times the levels found in other types of seafood.

Other studies have shown in Canada, Ireland, and Britain have found their results the same or similar. Diseases and parasites, which normally exist in extremely low levels in fish scattered around the oceans, could run rampant in a densely packed oceanic feedlots. There chances for survival, farmed fish are vaccinated, while as small fry, and later are given antibiotics or pesticides to avoid the infections. Sea lice, is another particular problem, in a study a fisherman brought two baby pink salmon covered with them. A bioligist later went around salmon farms examining more than seven hundred baby pink salmon and found out that seventy-eight percent were covered with a fatal load of sea lice while, juvenile salmon that she netted farther from the farms were largely lice-free.

Sea lice, in particular, are a problem. In a recent L.A. Times story, Alexandra Morton, an independent biologist and critic of salmon farms, is quoted as beginning to see sea lice in 2001 when a fisherman brought her two baby pink salmon covered with them. Examining more than 700 baby pink salmon around farms, she found that 78 percent were covered with a fatal load of sea lice while juvenile salmon she netted farther from the farms were largely lice-free. Well, there you have it unless you want cancer, want to eat a sick fish, or would you rather have healthy wild salmon that is not farm raised and is a cancer fighter, there is no contest eat wild salmon.

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What Exactly Is the Paleo Diet Program?

The paleo diet program has become popular recently thanks to the amount of beneficial results folks have had, where no other diet would work. The paleo diet is a form of a low-carb diet that is actually implemented as more of a way of living than a diet.

Paleo Diet

It calls for dedication. It demands change. It yields results. You have to find paleo diet recipes. You need to eat a paleo breakfast, a paleo lunch, and a paleo dinner. I don't always snack, but when I do, its paleo. The key rule of the paleo diet is to eat like our ancestors, the cavemen. Cavemen didn't have farming and constantly had to hunt and gather for their meals. They survived on a diet of meat, fish, berries, fruit, roots, nuts, and vegetables. They were furthermore active and had to be physically in good shape to safeguard themselves and their families. There were no guns (the great equalizer) or even crossbows. The paleo diet seeks to imitate the cavemen by foregoing carbs, eating a couple large meals every day, consuming a lot of animal fat, and ideally eating lots of organic produce. While typically animal fat is demonized as a cause of being overweight, a month or two eating as a caveman will teach you that carbohydrates are the real primary cause. The main difference between this diet and previous low-carb diets, such as the Atkins, is that this is a way of living in addition to a diet. You can still eat fruits with this diet, even the ones with lots of natural sugar. It is all right if you slip-up every now and then. The key is to follow an 80%/20% principle; stay rigid to the program 80% of the time and don't worry if you slip up in the other 20%. The diet works by schooling your body to begin digesting your body fat for your energy instead of using carbohydrates as in a normal American diet.

Carbohydrates are not evil, it is just in our present state of civilization where many of us work in careers that call for little or no physical exercise, we don't need them. Eating more than half of your daily calorie consumption in carbohydrates when you are not an endurance athlete and asking yourself why you are obese is like wearing a winter coat to Miami and asking yourself why you are sweaty. By getting rid of carbohydrates from the diet and instead consuming your calories from animal fat and produce, your body is taught to break down fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. So where to get started? For some people this diet is a substantial change to the status quo, and if you've been eating a particular way for most of your adult life it is not easy to switch at the flip of a coin. Here are a couple steps to help get you on the right path:

1. Discard all of your processed foods This is an absolute must. It doesn't matter if you are getting with the paleo plan or if you are on a standard calorie-counting diet, processed foods are the most detrimental thing you can put into your system food-wise. They have chemical substances used to make manufacturing easier and faster, usually too much salt, low quality ingredients, virtually no nutritional value, and are often strictly simple carbohydrates. You ever ask yourself why most coupons are marketed only for this junk? Because it's trash and everyone knows it. 2. Get rid of fast food. This may be challenging for people who live on a tight schedule, but you got to take care of yourself. Have you read recently that McDonalds just now eliminated a pink slime chemical (some form of ammonium) from their burgers because someone ratted them out to the press? Think about that for a moment. Pink slime. Makes me gag. They use the lowest quality meat at these places to make it cheap and quick to cook.

Paleo Diet Recipes

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