by Jon Grilz

Created on: April 26, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2008

Doctor Atkins was not a fool. He knew that the bodies primary source for energy is carbohydrates. When carbohydrates are not available the body will use stored fat as a source of energy. Fat stores energy (in the from of calories) more effectively and thus can provide necessary back up in the absence of carbs. However, that is not what the body wants or not.

The reason that carbs are "bad" for us is primarily two-fold. First of all we have done so much to process most forms of carbohydrates and saturate them with fats and sugars that the body simply does not need the amount that we feed it on a regular basis. In order to store the excess calories, the body turns them to fat (as it stores double the calories per gram versus carbs). Instead of eating whole grains, which were much harder to come by centuries ago, we eat starches in bulk, resulting in gaining large amounts of fat.

Second, if we don't have carbs the body will burn fats for energy. Which sounds great if it weren't for the fact that the body only burns the fat as a last resort to stave off death. The body needs carbohydrates not only to help digest proteins, but also to maintain energy levels and brain function.

As I said before, Doctor Atkins was a smart man, he knew that a person could lose weight by limiting carbs, thus making the body burn fat for energy. So all we really need is fat for energy and protein to maintain our muscles, right? The Atkins Program going bankrupt would say otherwise.

It is true, fat does not make us fat, excessive carbs do. However, large amounts of fat and protein are more dangerous to the body than carbohydrates are. Too much fat (in the forms of saturated fat and trans fat) lead to heart disease and high cholesterol. So you may be thin, but you run a very high risk of having a heart attack. Also, the body can only digest so much protein before excessive amounts are stored in the kidneys, leading to further damage.

As with any fad diet, there is always some truth and some brilliance. If Atkins has done anything it has taught the United States that it is important to read labels, look at what we are eating and limit the amount of carbohydrates that we are eating. Unless a person is incredibly active, it just isn't necessary to consume as much as we do (hence the fat gain). In the end it is all about moderation. Staying away from starches is a good place to start. Avoid white rice for brown rice, white bread for whole grain bread and watch the amount of added sugar on the nutrition labels.

Low-carb diets are the beginning of a good plan. What is most important is to figure out exactly how active you are during the day and how to supplement your routine with the correct balance of nutrients. Keep in mind, the term "low" for one person might be incredibly high simply based on how active their lifestyle is.

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