Enjoy the Different Chinese Dishes with Restrictions

You can still go visit your favorite Chinese restaurant and enjoy a sumptuous meal, as long as you keep a few restrictions in mind. You will need to limit the carbohydrate count of your meal, and if you are in the introductory phase of your Atkins diet, even a cornstarch in a sauce must be foregone until you reach the maintenance stage of the program.

With Chinese dishes having many regional variations, you need to ascertain the number of carbohydrates that these variations contain, and then calculate the permissible amounts that will often vary from restaurant to restaurant. The Atkins Chinese food diet will, as a general rule, not allow you to eat fried steamed rice, noodles, wontons, egg rolls or meats containing breads and sweet sauces. You won’t be eating sweet and sour, plum or orange-based sauces that accompany your duck serving.

Also, Chinese food has the tendency to use cornstarch when thickening sauces, which is why many of these liquids contain a fair amount of carbohydrates. Water chestnuts, another common Chinese food, make the number of carbohydrates climb even higher. This means that your Atkins Chinese food diet will forbid you from eating these high carbohydrate foods. Instead, you should opt for clear soups, steamed meats and tofu. For your sauces, make sure that you choose ones that are watery, such as Moo Goo Gai, which is a chicken curry. Also, try out Schezuan prawns and delicious black bean sauces.

If you cannot resist the temptation to order your favorite Chinese dish, then at least ask the waiter to leave out the cornstarch. Another easy method to get your fill of Chinese food is to eat a little before you visit the restaurant. This way, you won’t binge on too many restricted foods. In this manner, you can follow the Atkins Chinese food diet and still enjoy a satisfying meal at your favorite Chinese restaurant.

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Japan and Atkins

These noodles are named after a white waterfall which they resemble in appearance. The noodles themselves are virtually tasteless; but they easily absorb the flavors you add such as spaghetti sauce or meat. They can be coined as the first and most popular Japanese Atkins diet product for two reasons. Firstly, Atkins diet products are not very popular in Japan because people there are not obese and hence do not need them as much as their American counterparts. Secondly, the Japanese diet is hugely dependent on carbohydrates in the form of noodles and rice and so the Atkins diet doesn’t really appeal to them.

This is one of the main points that opponents of the Atkins diet use. They claim that if carbs were why we gained weight, then Japan and other Asian nations would be fighting the obesity epidemic too. They claim that if looked at ounce for ounce, there are more calories in fat than carbs. However the problem is you can eat only so much of protein or fat; but you can easily go overboard with carbs.

The shiritaki noodle has thus broken down these barriers ands allowed Atkins diet products to have a Japanese flavor to them as well. Strict followers of the Atkins diet have found this Japanese product to be a real breath of fresh air and have even devised recipes based on this noodle. The added fiber is a plus for those dieters who were struggling with irregularity and the adaptability of the noodle makes it ever so versatile.

Good for You

This Japanese Atkins diet product is also suitable for diabetics as it has no sugar. It is made from konjac flour which is a water-soluble dietary fiber from the konjac plant grown in Japan. This dietary fiber, glucomannan is sold in health stores for weight loss so it gets a perfect score on that front too. If you need any more reasons to enjoy this Japanese version of an Atkins diet product then enjoy the fact that these noodles contain calcium and are low on the glycemic index as well.

Don’t you wish all food was that way – good for you in every regard!

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Most Supermarkets are now Stocking Low Carb Products

Thanks to the Atkins diet, you can now visit many supermarkets or food outlets and see rows of “low carb” products that will surely remind you of the “low fat” products so popular in the 1980’s and 1990’s. If you are curious to know just how the Atkins diet works, be prepared to spend the first two weeks of the program consuming just twenty grams of carbohydrates on a daily basis. This introductory period will allow the dieter to eat meat, eggs, poultry, cheese, seafood and oils in their diet during these two weeks.

After the first two weeks, the Atkins diet will allow the dieter to add five grams of carbohydrates to the diet, and throughout this maintenance period, the dieter should not take more than forty to ninety grams of carbs on a permanent basis. Be warned that this is in contradiction to what health organizations as well as many health experts advocate. Unlike the recommendations of the American Cancer Society, which advocates five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily, the Atkins diet has no limitations imposed on consuming high protein foods as long as there are not excessive amounts of carbohydrates. This is particularly important to note, because countries such as Japan have their populace consuming foods that are especially rich in carbohydrates. These diets are diametrically opposed to what is recommended by the Atkins diet.

Conforming to the requirements of Atkins diet is often not easy, even though in the long term it would not adversely affect the dieters. There is however certain risks associated with the Atkins diet, such as high cholesterol and electrolyte imbalances. Nevertheless, the Atkins diet delves into the topic of insulin resistance, and why people that are overweight have trouble with their cells performing in less than satisfactory ways. In a nutshell, insulin resistant individuals tend to become fat because the carbohydrates get turned into fat instead of energy. Thus, the Atkins diet, which emphasizes low carbohydrate intake, keeps the problem at bay. This may well be yet another reason that this program is currently the number one diet preferred by most Americans.

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Although the limitations set on carbohydrates can be a shock to the system for some people, the idea that previous “bad” foods such as fried eggs and bacon are now allowed can be extremely tempting.  The overall advantages of the Atkins diet include rapid weight loss, low maintenance, unlimited protein and fat amounts, and it is highly suitable for people with allergies to ingredients such as yeast and wheat.

Advantages and Reasons to Maintain an Atkins Diet

The Atkins diet is one of the easiest to maintain since it does not require special meals, although there are low-carb options available.  Dieters tend to feel less hungry and have fewer cravings, because no food items are entirely restricted over the long haul, just limited to a certain amount.  Due to the amount of food allowed, dieters feel full and satisfied, and once they get used to less carbohydrates, they tend to feel less tired and more energetic. This may even serve as a catalyst for many folks to consider more exercise.  Most diets fail because they result in dieters feeling hungry, but this and other advantages make the Atkins diet one of the most popular.

Another advantage of the Atkins diet, and probably the most desirable to dieters, is that the diet forces the body to basically consume its own fat to transfer it into energy.  This fat burning potential leads to conspicuous and rapid weight loss, giving the dieter more determination to see the diet through.  Economical advantages of the Atkins diet stem from the fact that there are no special dietary requirements, making it cost the same as an ordinary meal plan.  Even if the Atkins diet is used for a short-term requirement, it can be quite easy to adjust back into a normal eating routine as opposed to stricter diets.  A huge relapse into overeating is more avoidable with higher calorie diets and the Atkins diet has a lot more advantages than many of the very restrictive, low-calorie diets.

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One suggested benefit is a potential link between the Atkins diet and acne reduction and prevention. So far, one study performed at RMIT University in Australia, suggests a link between the Atkins diet and acne reduction. Whether this correlation between the Atkins diet and acne reduction is legitimate requires further study, but if you wish to make your own decision of whether or not to try it, here are the facts and theory behind this development.

The Study

The RMIT study that suggests that the Atkins diet and acne reduction are linked took 50 young men, all suffering from acne, and separated them into two groups. One group was given a diet full of processed foods, while the other had a diet with higher protein and a lower number of complex carbohydrates, which are digested more slowly than processed foods. The result of the test was that the second group showed a reduction in their acne.

The result of this test has led to a new theory that the higher protein foods in the second group kept blood sugar levels from spiking too high, which can lead to acne problems. The expected result is that because the Atkins diet also leads to less blood sugar spikes, the Atkins diet and acne loss are linked.

What can you do?

Of course, without more extensive testing, the link between the Atkins diet and acne prevention and reduction is merely a theory and nothing more. However, if you are interested in trying the Atkins diet and reducing acne on your own, you can certainly give it a shot. Even if doesn’t seem to work for you, some time on the Atkins diet will still result in some weight loss, so it’s not as if you won’t come out with something to show for your efforts. Still, because a link between the Atkins diet and acne prevention has not been firmly established yet, do not take this route as a substitute for traditional treatments, but merely as a supplement to those treatments. Of course, if you do want healthy skin, then it should follow that you do everything that you can to keep it healthy.

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A number of folks who have participated in the Atkins diet program have actually seen a reduction in triglycerides, a rise in HDL (“good” cholesterol), and a better ratio between the HDL’s and the LDL’s (“bad” cholesterol). These encouraging results suggest that those on the Atkins diet with cholesterol problems may actually be able to regulate cholesterol levels on their own without the need for medications or other types of therapy. This is good news indeed for those who have seen successful weight loss on the Atkins diet program. Of course, weight loss is a key factor for good cholesterol levels, but there are other reasons for this positive link between the Atkins diet and cholesterol as well.

Why does the Atkins Diet Lower Cholesterol?

When you begin adhering to the Atkins diet program, your body makes the switch from a sugar metabolism to a fat metabolism. As long as you stay well below your allowable level of carbohydrate intake, you should see positive effects on your cholesterol from the Atkins diet. Although some people may see a rise in these levels at the very beginning stages of the diet program, the body adjusts itself quickly to the new menu and in most cases the cholesterol levels will begin to fall. This suggests that our intake of carbohydrates plays a large role in our cholesterol levels, which explains why there is a positive link between a low-carb diet like the Atkins diet and cholesterol.

If you are having a problem with your cholesterol levels, there is a good chance that you are not maintaining a healthy weight for you. With the Atkins diet, your cholesterol levels can correct themselves and your weight can come down to a healthy level as well. It’s a win/win for your body and you.

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Because this diet affects the amount of sugars that are in the body, the way the Atkins diet and diabetes patients react is of concern.  If not properly managed, diabetics are at potentially deadly health risks, so if there is a problem with the Atkins diet and diabetes, it helps to know this.  If you have diabetes and the Atkins diet is something that you want to try, know the facts that are necessary to keep you safe.

For Type 1 Diabetes Sufferers

Those who suffer from type 1 diabetes suffer from a problem with the organs that are supposed to produce insulin, resulting in a deficiency of insulin in the blood.  Those who suffer from type 1 diabetes and want the Atkins diet for their diet program should consider other alternatives.  Because the diet does have such a pronounced effect on blood sugar levels, the necessary measures sufferers of type 1 diabetes must take in order to control blood sugar levels would be too difficult.  Type 1 diabetes and the Atkins diet just do not mix well.

For Type 2 Diabetes Sufferers

In contrast, the Atkins diet and type 2 diabetes seem to be much more compatible.  Those who suffer from type 2 diabetes produce insulin at lower levels than most folks, or their bodies become less sensitive to its presence, which results in more insulin required in the body to produce the same effect as in a normal individual.  The Atkins diet can provide a few benefits for those suffering from type 2 diabetes. 

The first benefit is weight loss, which is an important benefit indeed, since many type 2 diabetes sufferers are overweight.  The weight loss that the Atkins diet results in provides health benefits for those who suffer from the disease as a result of obesity, reducing the effects of this disease.  Also, studies have suggested that those who suffer from diabetes and try the Atkins diet gain increased sensitivity to insulin, which means that their bodies start reacting to it more like a normal individual would.  This means less pills or shots are required in order to maintain proper insulin levels.  So while the Atkins diet is not a good idea if you suffer from type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes sufferers may find some benefit from this diet program.

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Importance of Correct Foods

Even with the combination of exercise and the Atkins diet, it is still most important to eat the correct foods.  This will stoke the fuels of the metabolism and allow the exercise to fully develop muscle fiber and improve circulation. It is well known that the metabolic process known as ketosis that drives weight loss under the Atkins diet and exercise program requires you to eat primarily proteins and fats.  Of course, it only makes sense to limit the intake of too many pure fats, as this is known not to be healthy. The Atkins diet and exercise program has shown to actually reduce the levels of cholesterol in the blood as a result of the action of ketosis.  Pure protein is considered essential for muscle development.  Eating a preponderance of lean meats, poultry, fish and green vegetables will enable the Atkins diet and exercise program to succeed where other diets cannot.

The Right Work Out

Although, initially, you will be rather tired on the Atkins diet and exercise program as you are taking in different foods and your body is most likely not used to sustained amounts of exercise, after a couple of weeks you will find that your energy level begins to increase, and you will need to begin to refine the type of exercise you do.  For most people, the exercise program should combine endurance and strengthening with neither being too ardent.  For others, the Atkins diet and exercise program provides an opportunity for them to gain significant muscle mass as their level of protein intake provides the fuel.  For these people, it may also be important to introduce additional amounts of complex carbohydrates to fuel their internal engines.  As long as the level of effort is sustained, the increase in carbohydrates should not impact your desired weight loss or body shaping.  If you ease off the exercise segment of the Atkins diet and exercise program, you should also back off the amount of carbohydrates that you take in.  The key to success is the balance of your diet and exercise as it is in all health and wellness programs.

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People who drink alcohol while on the Atkins diet can find themselves feeling the effects much quicker than normal, because the alcohol is rapidly broken down into ketones.  This can cause problems for the drinker, and is why alcohol is probably best to be avoided.  Alternatively light or limited drinking of alcohol during the Atkins diet should not have too many adverse effects, especially if the drinker has eaten properly beforehand, allowing for slower absorption of the alcohol.  Alcohol is also high in calories and is generally avoided during any form of dieting.

Drinking Alcohol that is Allowed on the Atkins Diet

By the time the maintenance stage of the diet is reached, it is permissible to drink alcohol on the Atkins diet.  Distilled spirits such as vodka and gin are the best options, because they are low in calories and do not contain sugar.  The mixers that are used should also be given serious consideration since most contain sugars in their content. This includes fruit juices, tonic water and non-diet drinks that you would normally mix with alcohol.  Even drinking spirits with low calorie mixers can stop weight loss and even cause weight gain.  If this happens, it is advisable to discontinue drinking alcohol during the Atkins diet.

Liquors and cocktails are usually a no-no for dieters, but there are low-carb varieties of cocktails available to allow most people can enjoy the occasional beverage while using the Atkins diet to lose weight.  Until you have reached your target weight, it is best to avoid alcohol altogether and when re-introducing it back into the diet, follow the process slowly and carefully. This is a wise choice, since the effects of alcohol on your system can change while you are dieting

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As opposed to results found on a low-fat diet, high cholesterol levels show greater improvement on Atkins diet.  However, there are no studies that have proven the long term effects of the Atkins diet on hi cholesterol.  Overall, it is generally believed that the Atkins diet raises “good” cholesterol levels and lowers “bad” cholesterol levels (LDL) on a short-term basis.  The Atkins diet is considered to be a fairly healthy and effective diet for a certain amount of time, but it should not be used as a life plan for most folks.  The longer the diet is maintained, the higher the risk of diseases and other health problems.  The same can be said for any diet that restricts entire food groups.

Is the Atkins Diet a High Cholesterol Eating Plan?

When considering the core value of the diet and the base of the food pyramid, the Atkins diet is surely a hi cholesterol eating plan. Nevertheless, as a short-term plan it does not raise cholesterol levels; instead it raises the amount of “good” cholesterol in the body and adjusts the ratio of HDL to LDL.  As a long-term diet however, the Atkins plan can have a certain amount of negative effects like increasing heart problems and high cholesterol. 

As the body produces most of the cholesterol in your system, it makes little difference to exclude it entirely from your eating plans. While it can be possible to reduce cholesterol levels by adjusting your diet, completely eliminating saturated fat and cholesterol is not the answer, and can actually lead to further health problems.  To summarize, yes, the Atkins diet is a food plan that is full of hi cholesterol but cholesterol is a necessary part of nutrients we require on a daily basis. At least for short-term use, the benefits of losing weight seem to far outweigh the other factors of this diet plan.

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