Revolution GrayAre you curious about the keto and Atkins diets, but not sure if it’s right for you? In this post, we’ll compare the keto diet with Atkins to help you decide which is best for your needs. Both diets are popular for weight loss, but they have different pros and cons. Keep reading to learn more!
What is the Atkins Diet?
The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate diet created by Robert Atkins, M.D., in the 1970s. Dr. Atkins advocated that minimizing intake of carbohydrates will result in weight loss because it makes people lose water weight and feel less hungry. Carbs should be replaced with protein and fats to reduce cravings, leading to long-term weight loss, he claimed [at least for some].
The Atkins diet is broken into 4 phases, each lasting a different amount of time, depending on which phase the person is trying to achieve. They are as follows:
induction (phase 1)
ongoing weight loss (phase 2)
pre-maintenance (phase 3)
lifetime maintenance (phase 4)
The induction phase is the most restrictive, lasting 2 weeks. During this phase, only 20 grams of carbohydrates are allowed per day. This phase is designed to help the person lose weight quickly by forcing the body to burn its own fat for energy.
The ongoing weight loss phase allows for more carbohydrates, up to 50 grams per day. This phase is designed to help the person lose more weight.
The pre-maintenance phase allows for 60 grams of carbohydrates per day. Some people may choose to stay in this phase if they are trying to lose a very small amount of weight.
During the lifetime maintenance phase, the individual can eat anywhere from 60-100 grams of carbohydrates per day. This phase allows the person to eat a wider range of foods but does not allow for them to exercise poor eating habits.
What is the Ketogenic Diet?
The keto diet, also known as the ketogenic diet, is a high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet. The goal of the keto diet is to force the body into a state of ketosis, which is when the body uses fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. On the keto diet, you should eat a lot of healthy fats, moderate amounts of protein, and very few carbs.
The Keto diet has become more popular these days as well. It was originally designed to help children with epilepsy, but it has since become a diet that people use to help them lose weight.
Keto or Atkins?
So, which diet is better: Atkins or Keto?
The biggest difference between Atkins and keto is that Atkins, which allows for slightly more carbohydrate consumption, is a lifelong diet change while keto is intended as a short-term solution.
The keto diet has been shown to help with weight loss, but it can be difficult to maintain long-term. The Atkins diet is considered better for long-term maintenance because of stringent carbohydrate restrictions. As a result, the Atkins diet may have more potential health benefits than the keto diet in the long run.
The answer to that question really depends on you. Both diets have their pros and cons, and it is up to you to decide which one is the best fit for your lifestyle and your goals.
Consult with your healthcare provider
If you’re interested in trying out the ketogenic or Atkins diet it is best to consult with a doctor or nutritionist. There are also some great online resources that can provide more detailed information about the ketogenic diet. A couple of good ones to check out are Keto Diet Book and Diet Doctor.
References:
http://www.who.int/features/qa/80/en/