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The Atkins diet forces the body into a state of ketosis, where it uses fat for energy instead of sugars. However, much of the fat burned comes from the food a person eats, and the diet can lead to health problems such as organ failure and cancer. The diet limits fruits and vegetables, leading to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Patients should discuss the risks and benefits with a doctor before attempting the diet.
The Atkins diet and ketosis are closely related because the purpose of this diet is to force the body into a state of ketosis. While the body is in ketosis, it uses fat for energy instead of the sugars it normally uses for fuel. Although this can help the body burn some of its own fat stores, much of the fat that is broken down for energy comes directly from the food a person eats. In many patients, the Atkins diet and ketosis have been linked to a number of health problems, including organ failure and cancer.
Logically, it seems that the Atkins diet and ketosis promote the loss of body fat. After all, people on this diet consume so few carbohydrates that their bodies have no choice but to metabolize fat to keep up with the body’s energy needs. However, in practice, much of the fat burned comes from the fat a person eats along with meat, which is the main component of the Atkins diet. If people do not sufficiently reduce their caloric intake and increase their activity, they will not lose body fat or weight.
Under normal circumstances, the human body breaks down carbohydrates and sugars into glucose, which is used for fuel. Sugars can be used quickly, but carbohydrates must be broken down into sugars before they can be used. The Atkins diet prevents the body from using its normal metabolic system because people on this diet severely limit their intake of simple and complex sugars. Without its primary source of fuel, the body switches to the fat-burning backup system it typically uses in times of famine.
Although short-term use of the Atkins diet and ketosis to burn fat is generally not harmful, some people do experience adverse effects from this diet. The Atkins diet, because it relies heavily on meats as a food source, is often high in cholesterol. Over time, cholesterol can damage the circulatory system and lead to heart problems, including heart failure. People who follow the Atkins diet and use ketosis to burn fat can also end up deficient in a number of vitamins and minerals found only in fruits and vegetables, foods that the Atkins diet limits. Patients should discuss the potential benefits and risks of the Atkins diet and ketosis with a doctor before attempting to use them for weight loss.
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