Take Control Of Your Weight With The Atkins Diet Low Carb Lifestyle

Weight loss is more than cosmetic -- it can have a major effect on your health! Studies show that low carb diets are a safe and effective way to lose and maintain weight. The Atkins Diet is an effective and scientifically proven low carb plan. Vitacost.com offers free Atkins Diet information, and a full menu of sumptuous Atkins Diet foods to prepare delicious Atkins Diet recipes.

What Is The Atkins Diet?

The Atkins Diet is a non-restrictive low carb diet plan founded by noted physician and complementary health advocate, Dr. Robert C. Atkins. At the heart of the "Atkins Diet" is a four-phase eating plan, known as the Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM, an individualized low carb plan based around four phases, which are themselves based on four unifying low carb principles.

The Atkins Nutritional Approach incorporates a variety of mouth-watering Atkins Diet foods, along with vital vitamin and mineral supplementation and regular exercise. Through this plan's program of nutritional health, you can improve your appearance and energy level. And, all Atkins Diet foods -- along with all Atkins recipes and any Atkins Diet information -- are carefully researched and approved by the knowledgeable physicians and nutritional specialists comprising the Atkins Diet Board.

What Is the Atkins Nutritional Approach™?

• Phase 1: Induction Daily carbohydrate (carb) intake is limited to 20 grams, and your carbs are taken primarily from salads and other non-starchy vegetables.
• Phase 2: Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) Increased nutrient- and fiber-rich foods are soon allowed. 25 daily grams are added in the first week, 30 grams the next week, and so on, until weight loss stops. 5 grams of carbs are then subtracted from your daily intake. Sustained, moderate weight loss is a constant.
• Phase 3: Pre-Maintenance Your daily carb intake is increased in 10 gram increments, even as you maintain gradual weight loss. Now, you have made the jump from weight loss to maintenance.
• Phase 4: Lifetime Maintenance Choose from a wide variety of Atkins Diet foods shown to successfully control your carb intake and weight maintenance.

These are the four Atkins Nutritional Principles:

1. You will lose weight.
2. You will maintain your weight loss.
3. You will achieve good health.
4. You will lay the permanent groundwork for disease prevention.

Who Was Dr. Atkins?

The Atkins Diet was founded by Robert C. Atkins, M.D., a long-time advocate of natural and complementary health. Dr. Atkins believed that proper diet and nutritional support would effectively defend against and even ward off such weight-based health concerns as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. After more than 30 years, his Atkins Diet Low Carb Menu has transformed the health of millions of individuals.

The Atkins Nutritional Approach is not a low carb diet, but rather a philosophy for life-long nutrition, one based on consumption of nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods, and a restriction of processed and refined carbohydrates. A strict regimen of essential vitamin and mineral intake is crucial to the plans success, including full-spectrum multi-vitamins and a formula of essential oils and fatty acids.