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Recently, there have been many media documented arguments over the Atkins diet between its supporters and detractors. I am going to attempt to summarize the pros and cons of the diet program, enabling you to make an educated, informed, choice.

First let's examine the facts quickly. Unsurprisingly, it's estimated that over 40 million American are deciding to choose low carb style diets in their bids to lose weight. Companies and marketers have been making a killing in profits targeting people who have chose this dietary change, by releasing well over 500 products that include the no carb or low carb label.

Which tells you that it does work...isn't it? Yes and no, the discovery of the risk factor associated with low carbs diet like Atkins, particularly for the age group higher that 40, was the outcome of debates on the long term effects on health by experts.

The diet of all low carb diets, Atkins, which goes with the notion that carb sugars was the main reason for people becoming overweight. WIth all the false statements out there these days, there is slight truth to that statement, as it is usually a mixture of the highly refined sugars, along with the saturated fats, which have helped cause the wide spread fat epedimic today.

The principle is that carbs raise blood sugar levels and then trigger insulin production, in which the insulin directed those refined sugars into your cells, preventing the burning of fat. So, the theory was that if we cut the carbs, the body would use these sugars as it's primary source of fuel, and the body would start burning fat for energy instead.

Atkins is also highly critical of sugar and recommends eliminating it from your diet. Instead of carbs and sugar, Atkins eaters are allowed plenty of fat and protein. The system specifically recommends animal proteins and notes that vegetarians and vegans will have a hard time following Atkins.

On the down side, as the body begins to lose fat, it attempts to gather the nutrients that carbohydrates used to provide by losing water stores and lean muscle, which is vital for a high metabolism. Ketones are produced when the body burns larger amounts of fats without sufficient carbs.

Headaches, dizzyness, dehydration, bad breath and nausea are all side effects of ketones. Bone loss, breakdown of the muscles and kidney disease, long term, not to mention lack of carb sugars causes the brain to lose its main source of fuel, causingdamage to the brain and an increased risk of a heart attack.

Despite all that, this diet does seem to be an effective way of losing fat weight. If you're going to attempt this diet, do your homework, don't follow any diet without proper research.