It doesn't mean it's good for you. Dr. Ayoob, who has debated Dr. Atkins several times about the merits of his diet, says all the big promises about melting away excess fat with the diet are nonsense. Because of the way the body reacts to such a low carbohydrate intake, most people experience a loss of appetite and, as a result, simply eat less. No magic weight loss secret there, he says. A new study suggests Dr. Ayoob is right.
Some people experience a lack of energy, fatigue, nausea, headaches and constipation.
Because the diet greatly restricts carbohydrate intake, it is lacking in disease-preventing fruits and vegetables and all the nutrients and phytochemials they contain. The plan is also low in bone-building calcium, since milk, one of the best sources of calcium, is forbidden. For all these reasons, the American Dietetic Association warns against using the Atkins Diet. While processing these fat stores, the body produces chemicals known as ketones. Proponents of the diet claim ketones are excreted in urine as excess calories.