Dr. Atkins was in the main correct. His basic theory that insulin was the key to restoring health and losing weight was a real breakthrough.  

Unfortunately over the years doubts have arisen about some other aspects of his approach. When most people first read one of his many books there first thought is – “wonderful, I can eat all the fatty foods I love and still lose weight!” 

1. Too Much Unhealthy Fat 

Sadly many of the foods that come to mind as favorites are less than healthy choices. Fried steaks and burgers and sausages are an obvious examples. These are not healthy foods. If consumed now and then they probably won’t cause you any problems. 

But far too many people eat them daily while on the Atkins diet. And heavy consumption of these unhealthy fats can lead to a number of potentially serious health problems.
 

2. Not Enough Fiber

Another problem Atkins dieters run into is constipation. After a few days on the diet many people notice that their bowels slow down or even grind to a halt. Some have to resort to enemas to get things moving again. Atkins recognized this problem in his very first book and suggested that Atkins dieters consume Metamucil fiber supplements. That works for some but not all.  

Also, if you cruise the fiber isle of your local drug store and scan the labels with a sharp eye you will no doubt discover as I did that the various fiber products contain sugar – some contain a lot of sugar and sugar is poison to the whole Atkins approach.

Many fiber products contain from 4 to over 18 grams of carb per dose and when you’re in the initial phase of your Atkins journey you’re struggling to keep your carbohydrate consumption under 20 grams per day. There’s little room for sugary powders. 

Because of these problems today many dieters are modifying the Atkins approach. They’re adding some fiber-rich fruits and vegetables to the regime. Unfortunately these plant foods also contain some natural carbohydrate which complicates matters. But adding some limited amounts of fiber-rich fruits and/or veggies can help keep the bowels operating in a healthy fashion.
 

3. Not Enough Fruits and Veggies 

Some feel that the Atkins approach is too strict. Atkins goal was to promote rapid weight loss during the first week of the diet. All diet programs make an attempt to maximize weight loss during the early phase in order to build psychological momentum and keep dieters highly motivated.

I’ve experimented and have found that you can eat considerably more carbohydrate than Dr. Atkins recommends and still lose weight steadily. Of course the rate of weight loss will slow as more carbohydrate is added, but for many the additional fruits and veggies makes the diet much more palatable and easier to adhere to over the long run.

The Atkins Diet Becomes the Mediterranean Diet 

Funny thing is – as we add fiber, healthy fats and fruits and vegetables to the original Atkins diet, the Atkins diet begins to look a lot like the Mediterranean Diet. After all, what is the Mediterranean Diet but the Atkins Diet with a wider range of foods?

The Bottom Line

Though the Mediterranean diet is clearly an effective way to prevent not only diabetes but a host of other maladies, it’s not an absolute.

All you really need to do is reduce your consumption of refined carbohydrates while increasing your intake of natural, nutrient-dense foods and you’ll be on the right track. ■