The Atkins diet is a weight loss plan that has been gaining popularity among overweight people as a quick way to shed some pounds. This is a low carbohydrate diet that works in stages or phases in which carbohydrates are virtually eliminated and then slowly added back into the diet after weight loss has been achieved. This diet has become so popular that there are Atkin's books, drinks, shakes and other supplemental items to help enhance the dieting experience.
The first stage of the Atkins diet is called the "induction" stage. During this stage participants of the diet are encouraged to eat no more than 20 grams of carbs a day. In order to achieve such a low amount of carbohydrates they are typically only limited to sauces, cheeses and from low carb vegetables such as lettuce and other greens.
As a result of limiting carbohydrates to this extent, your body goes into a state called ketosis, in which it must start breaking down fats and proteins to utilize energy as carbohydrates are no longer available to it. Ketosis refers to the body's utilization of ketones for energy, which is the result of breaking down fats. In a healthy individual (key word here being healthy) ketosis is safe and not harmful to the body. The body favors carbohydrates over any other energy source and as long as you readily supply them through the diet the body will use these first and leave your fat stores alone. However, the Atkin's diet changes your body from a carbohydrate burning machine to a fat burning machine and this is the purported reason for weight loss in this famous diet.
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