Health Risks Associated with the Atkins Diet :: Healthy Lifestyle Essay

Health Risks Associated with the Atkins DietLow cabbage and high fat and protein diets much(prenominal) as the Atkins Diet are very bad for ones health in the long run. The Atkins Diet stresses to steer clear of foods that contain many carbohydrates such as pastas, fruits, vegetables, and breads while instead eating foods such as meats, cheeses, peanuts, and dairy that are high in fat and protein. This eating habit eventually takes a cost on ones health because a certain measure of carbohydrates are a necessity for the body because they are a source of fuel. Also, meats and dairy contain cholesterol and when one eats this food in excess the cholesterol begins to build up in the arteries and linage vessels. This build up can eventually go across to heart disease and various other health risks. Carbohydrates provide energy for the body to function. When these carbohydrates are not eaten the body then burns its stored fat for fuel. As the bodys supply of fat diminishes one begins to lose weight. Therefore, the Atkins Diet is successful at making one lose weight in the short term because carbohydrate intake is severely restricted to less than 20 grams per day and will eventually climb to about 40 grams after a few weeks. This translates to no more than three cups of loosely packed salad or two cups of salad with two-thirds cup of certain cooked vegetables each day (www.webmd.com). However, the body needs a certain amount of these carbohydrates and after a while of recieving them the body does not function properly. According to Gail Frank, a PhD professor of nutrition at California State University in wide Beach, The body needs a minimum of carbohydrates for efficient and healthy functioning -- about 150 grams daily (www.webmd.com). She states that less than 150 grams of carbohydrates disrupts the bodys normal metabolic activity. Also, the head teacher needs glucose to function efficiently, and it takes a long time to break down fat and pro tein to get to the brain, (www.webmd.com). Glucose results from carbohydrates or sugar broken down into the bloodstream moreover also occurs naturally in fruits and honey. Therefore, the body needs a certain amount of good carbohydrates like fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can lead to heart disease.