A Guide to The Atkins Diet: It Isn't About Eating Unhealthy Fats

One common misconception is that when you are on the Atkins diet you eat nothing but meat and extreme quantities of unhealthy fats. This is not the case at all. The Atkins diet is about reducing carbohydrate intake and slowing the effects carbohydrates have on blood sugar levels.

Getting started with the Atkins diet is the hardest part of the diet. Not only will you have to cut your favorite dessert out of your diet but you have to cut your morning cup of coffee out as well. Caffeine has a negative impact on blood sugar levels so for the induction phase you have to go decaffeinated.

Caffeine is not the only thing you cut out of your diet when you start doing Atkins. Refined foods are also removed from your plate. No more white flour. Sugar is a thing of the past. Starchy vegetables and sugary fruits are removed also. In fact, you will be eating lean meats and salad greens for the first two weeks. It is no wonder you will be losing weight more quickly in this phase than in any other phase of the diet. Total carbohydrate count for the day is 20 "net carbs."

What is a "net carb?" Your body converts most carbohydrate into blood sugar. Fiber and sugar alcohols (and glycerin) are not converted into blood sugar because your body cannot burn them. "Net carbs"are the total carbohydrate content minus the fiber content and/or the sugar alcohols and glycerins. These are the carbohydrates that will affect your blood sugar levels.

Protein and Fats do not convert directly into blood sugar. The addition of protein and fat to a meal slows the conversion of carbohydrates from the meal into blood sugars.

Using this principle, Dr. Atkins devised a weight loss plan. Using natural, unprocessed carbohydrates in small quantities, along with protein and fats to help lessen the impact on blood sugar levels, your body is able to burn its fat stores. Burning your fat stores instead of burning the carbohydrates you eat for energy equals weight loss.