Is the Atkins diet (Atkinson diet) bad for you

A.� The Atkins, or Atkinson diet as it sometimes called,�can help you lose weight quickly - the downside is the loss of energy while you're on it.

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Q.� How does it work

A.� You can eat as much protein as you like - fish, meat or beans - but you must restrict your intake of carbohydrates; high-sugar foods, breads, pasta, cereal and starchy foods, which usually make up 50 per cent of an average person's daily diet. The process behind the Atkinson diet is that eating this way causes a process called ketosis, which burns excess stored body fat related to weight loss.

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Q.� Who invented it

A.� Dr Robert C Atkins, founder and executive medical director of the Atkins Center for Complementary Medince in New York. Dr Atkins qualified in 1955 and went on to specialise in cardiology. Atkins claims you will start to burn fat for energy; you will not feel hungry between meals and overall your health will improve. He does admit, however, that if you go back to a high carbohydrate diet, you will pile on the pounds.

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Q.� What are the cons of the diet

A.� If you have heart disease or a family history of heart disease, you should stay away from a low carbohydrate, high saturated fat diet. People living with diabetes, if you are taking insulin, are at risk from becoming hypoglycaemic�if they do not eat appropriate carbohydrate and protein diets.

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Women can also become at risk from the bone disease osteoporosis if their diet is inadequate. The diet has caused much controversy as it restricts the intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, which contain important vitamins. Doctors say it is important to make sure your body gets essential nutrients from a variety of sources.�

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Tthe diet has been around since the 70s, but hit the headlines recently when Catherine Zeta Jones, the new Mrs Michael Douglas, announced she had lost three stones in 11 weeks on the diet, following the birth of her son.

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Q.� Where can I find out more

A.� Dr Atkins'�original book on the diet Dr Atkins' Diet Revolution was published in 1972 and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution, published in 1992, was top of the best-selling health book list in 1997 and 1998. The revised version includes chapters on the latest nutritional rsearch.

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If you are looking to use weight why not do it safely and healthily with the online slimming club RealSlimmers.

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For more food and drink questions and answers, click here

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By Katharine MacColl�