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The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate diet, usually recommended for weight loss. Proponents of this diet claim that you can lose weight eating as much protein and fat as you want, as long as you avoid foods high in carbs.

The Atkins diet was originally promoted by a physician named Dr. Robert C. Atkins, who wrote a best-selling book about the diet in 1972. Since then, the Atkins diet has been popular all over the world and many more books have been written about it. The main reason low-carb diets are so effective for weight loss, is that when people reduce carbohydrate intake and eat more protein, their appetite goes down and they end up automatically eating fewer calories.

The Atkins diet is split into 4 different phases: Phase 1 (Induction): Under 20 grams of carbs per day for 2 weeks. Eat high-fat, high-protein, with low-carb vegetables like leafy greens. This kick-starts the weight loss. Phase 2 (Balancing): Slowly add more nuts, low-carb vegetables and small amounts of fruit back to your diet. Phase 3 (Fine-Tuning): When you are very close to your goal weight, add more carbs to your diet until weight loss slows down. Phase 4 (Maintenance): Here you can eat as many healthy carbs as your body can tolerate without regaining weight.

PHOTO: ATKINSDIETMENU.ORG

You should base your diet around these healthy foods: Meats: Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, bacon and others. Fatty fish and seafood: salmon, trout, sardines, etc. Eggs: the healthiest eggs are Omega-3 enriched or pastured. Low-carb vegetables: Kale, spinach, broccoli, asparagus and others. Full-fat dairy: butter, cheese, cream, full-fat yoghurt. Nuts and seeds: almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc. HealthyfFats: extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocados and avocado oil.

Foods to avoid - sugar: soft drinks, fruit juices, cakes, candy, ice cream, etc. Grains: wheat, spelt, rye, barley, rice. Vegetable oils: soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil and a few others. Trans Fats: usually found in processed foods with the word “hydrogenated” on the ingredients list. High-carb vegetables: carrots, turnips, etc (induction only). High-carb fruits: bananas, apples, oranges, pears, grapes (induction only). Starches: potatoes, sweet potatoes (induction only). Legumes: lentils, beans, chickpeas, etc (induction only).