Atkins Diet Health Risks

The high-protein, low-carb diet is wildly popular, but what are the Atkins Diet health risks you need to be aware of? How many of these risks are serious, and how many are mere annoyances?

Dispelling Myths

Before discussing the risks of the diet, however, it is important to understand what the Atkins Diet is, and what it is not.

• Not "no carb." This is a four-phase, incremental, low-carb diet. In the first phase, which is to be followed for only two weeks, carbohydrate intake is restricted to 20g daily -- dieters are encouraged to get these carbs from salads and green vegetables. In the second phase, the dieter begins to add 5g of carbs to the daily count at weekly intervals until weight loss stalls or stops. The third and fourth phases are more liberal, and by the time they reach these levels, most dieters are eating 75 or more grams of carbs daily. Again, vegetables and low-sugar fruits are encouraged, rather than empty carbs from non-nutritive desserts. A person who abandons fruits and vegetables, and eats only meat and cheese is not following the Atkins Diet as written.
• Not for everyone. Dr. Robert Atkins makes it quite clear in his book that the Atkins Diet is not for overeaters or people with eating disorders. It is intended for people whose bodies show clear signs of having difficulty processing and utilizing carbohydrate.
• Not independent. While it is possible to follow the plan without ever seeing a physician, Dr. Atkins himself was not in favour of this approach. His books lists several pages of blood and health tests a person should have performed beforehand, and he suggests frequent visits to check blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.

Atkins Diet Health Risks

If the diet is followed as written, with all medical tests and other guidelines followed, most people will have no serious side effects or health risks. However, certain groups of people should not try the Atkins Diet without close medical supervision, as there are possibilities of negative side effects.

• Ketosis. Ketosis is a state in which the body is burning fat and producing ketones. Ketones are a by-product of fat metabolism, and the state of ketosis should not be confused with ketoacidosis, which is a life-threatening condition that may be developed by diabetics who are burning fat too quickly. For those with diabetes, especially juvenile (Type I) diabetes, the state of ketosis may be undesirable, as it may overwhelm the delicate balance of the system that keeps blood glucose and blood insulin levels under control.
• Kidney Problems. The higher levels of protein in this diet may pose problems for people who have compromised kidney function. For this reason, low-carb, high-protein diets are generally contraindicated for kidney patients and for those at high risk for kidney disease.
• Dehydration. While this shouldn't be a problem, it frequently crops up among low-carbohydrate dieters. The reason is two-fold. The increased sense of fullness from the higher-fat intake can suppress both thirst and appetite -- especially since many people confuse symptoms of thirst with hunger. Thus, a person may simply fail to drink enough water to adequately hydrate the body. The second reason a low-carb dieter may suffer dehydration is the increased fat metabolism. The body must have water to metabolize and excrete fat, and the water that is stored with fat is generally not sufficient to meet this need. Dehydration can be avoided by careful attention to the amount of water drunk each day: as with any diet, the dieter should drink one ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight.
• Electrolyte Imbalance. It is possible, with the increased excretion of water and the accelerated metabolism of fat, to induce a state of hypokalemia, lack of potassium in the blood. It is important, therefore, to ensure that the low-carb dieter includes adequate quantities of low-carb vegetables containing potassium. Broccoli, avocado, cantaloupe, and berries are all good sources for dietary potassium; supplementation is permitted, but those on blood pressure medication should consult their doctors before supplementing with potassium.
• Hypertension and Other Cardiac Problems. While there have been claims of elevated blood pressure and cardiac problems, none of these claims has been shown to be true of those who were following the Atkins Diet as written. Those who completely avoid all sources of carbohydrate may, indeed, incur such problems. But, for those who are faithfully following the written regimen, the opposite effect has often been noted: their blood pressure decreased to levels closer to normal, and their heart function improved.
• Elevated Blood Lipid Levels. One of the fears among doctors and scientists is that the higher fat content of the Atkins diet may put patients at risk for coronary artery disease and other cholesterol-related problems. This fear has not proven to be well-grounded. Most people who follow the diet under their doctor's supervision have reported reduced levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol), and increased levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL, or "good" cholesterol.) Those who are considering this diet, but who already have cholesterol issues may wish to discuss the regimen with their doctors and request frequent lipid profiles during the first few months to ensure lipid levels are not negatively affected.

Minor Side Effects

Some of the minor side effects reported by those who follow the Atkins Diet include:

• constipation, which may be remedied by the addition of flaxseed, celery, and other fiber-rich food sources, as well as increased consumption of water.
• halitosis, which may be addressed by increasing water consumption and adding sugar-free mints or gum to the diet plan.
• fatigue or weakness, which should first be explored to see if it is related to other health problems. If not, then a slight increase to the daily carbohydrate allotment may be in order.

Overall Evaluation

As stated previously, the Atkins Diet is generally safe if followed exactly as written. For certain groups of people, however, including Type I diabetics, kidney disease patients, and people with established heart problems, the Atkins Diet should be attempted only under the careful supervision of a medical doctor. As with any diet endeavor, you should seek the advice of a medical professional before embarking.

Related Diet Links

• Basics of the Atkins Diet
• Atkins Diet Food List
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• Atkins Diet Menus
• Atkins Diet Pros and Cons