Atkins is one of the most popular diets ever created and medical research may also suggest that it is one of the most effective.

Medical Research

Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., and colleagues at Stanford University conducted an NCCAM-funded study of 311 overweight or obese pre-menopausal women. Four different diets including Atkins were used for the test and the women were randomly allocated to a diet. The Atkins group came out on top with an average weight loss of just over 10 pounds in the 12 month period.This group also had the most favourable metabolic effects.

Duke University Medical School

A study of 120 overweight volunteers, conducted at Duke University Medical School, had patients who followed either the Atkins diet or an American Heart Association low-fat plan. Atkins dieters also took multivitamins and fish oil capsules, as the book recommends. After six months, low-fat dieters had lost 20 pounds; the Atkins dieters had lost 31 pounds, and they were more likely to adhere to the diet. Total cholesterol went down 6% for the low-fat group vs. 4% for the Atkins group. Dieters following the low-fat regimen had a 22% drop in blood fats known as triglycerides and no increase in HDL, or "good" cholesterol. The Atkins dieters experienced a 49% drop in triglycerides and an 11% increase in HDL.

Risks

Many health professionals are concerned about the long term health impact of eating red meat Atkins critics - among them the Washington D.C. based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) charges the protein heavy diet places those who follow it at risk. "High protein diets may cause permanent loss of kidney function;" the group notes, adding that "meat-heavy diets significantly increase one's risk of colon cancer and osteoporosis."

Many people also like like to burn their meat and eat it well done. Carcinogens can be caused by burnt meat.

What is the Solution?

Many people believe that Atkins is bacon and red meat. Red meat is on the diet but there are many other other lean protein sources available.

A high vegetable protein and vegetable fat version of Atkins has been developed by the University of Toronto. The diet is called the Low Carbohydrate Portfolio or "Eco-Atkins" Diet.

The intention of the diet was to exchange of the butter, eggs, cheese and meat in the Atkins diet for soy protein foods. The belief was that other vegetable proteins including gluten and vegetable fats, nuts, avocado, olive and canola oil will result in dramatic rather than modest reductions in blood lipids with weight loss. An exchange of saturated fat and animal protein for healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and vegetable proteins with significantly effect blood lipids while still encouraging weight loss.

Other Advantages

Consequences on Environment

By consuming two serves of red meat per day will cause theproduction of almost 6 tonnes of methane emissions annually.

Massive amounts of energy are required to produce cheap fattening snacks, fast foods and processed meals. For an average Western diet, 10 calories of fossil-fuel energy are required for just one calorie of food energy on to your plate. 3000 calories worth of fossil-fuel energy are required for an average sized chocolate bar.

An extra 50kgs of weight in your car results in a 2% decrease in fuel economy. Richard Branson recently signed a pledge to lose at least 6kgs in weight before taking a flight in one of his exclusive new fuel-efficient aircrafts.

The eco-diet especially the Eco-Atkins is a great way to save the world whilst you save yourself