Atkins Diet

[canadianpoet]

I have just recovered from a gastral illness after being on holiday where the diet consisted of very little vegetable products. This was neither pleasant nor expected on my part!

 

I was wondering if people who come off the Atkins Diet suffer in the same way.

 

I was away for 2 weeks, and ate mainly cheese, meat and bread. This is not too dissimilar to the Atkins Diet. If the gastral illness is a side effect to the Atkins Diet, is there something that can be taken to prevent it from happening?

[Rasori]

Though likely not healthy at my age, I had been on the Atkins Diet for a time. It worked for me, until I came off of it (hello, world of dieting). I didn't experience any illnesses from coming off of it.

 

I was very different in my perceptions of it, however--you say you ate meat and cheese (which are perfectly fine) and bread (which, at least at the time, was a major no-no). At the same time, many vegetables can be eaten. I had my limit at 20 (net, meaning from sugars or unclarified) carbohydrates per day, and I still managed to, next to the grain requirements, maintain a pretty healthy diet (food-group wise). Broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower are all pretty easily worked in (and likely more, but those are the three I like lol), as well as some fruits.

 

Anyway, to answer your actual question--I've not personally experienced any gastral illnesses from coming off of Atkins.

[Bio-Hazard]

I usually get sick if I go off my Atkin's diet.

 

I like to think that sugar feeds bacteria and bacteria grow better because of sugar.

So.. if you take in more sugar, you allow more bacteria in your body to grow, thus you will get sick.

 

When I'm on Atkins, I don't get sick. I haven't been sick for 8 months now.

I'm doing pretty awesome.

 

However, I'm very, very hungry most of the time and I can't get over it.

I guess my metabolism kicked back in.

 

I have experienced problems with flatuence however they seem to be related to some odd movements and feelings of the stomach.

 

I may have experienced some odd gastral effects but nothing too serious.

[Phi for All]

I was away for 2 weeks, and ate mainly cheese, meat and bread. This is not too dissimilar to the Atkins Diet.

This is nothing like the Atkins diet. Grains are not allowed at all, especially bread made with overly-milled white flour. Roughage from vegetables is essential to the diet as well. Atkins dieters usually avoid sugary fruits and sweet vegetables like carrots

but enjoy most other vegetables (remembering that tomatoes are fruit, and corn is a grain).

I have experienced problems with flatuence however they seem to be related to some odd movements and feelings of the stomach.

If you aren't producing insulin due to a stable blood sugar level, you are burning fat cells instead of storing them. These ketones leave the body via feces and urine or, as a last resort, are expelled from the lungs. This can lead to flatulence and bad breath if you aren't drinking enough water. Drink more water and see if your problem goes away.

 

I'm surprised about the hunger bit. Usually when I've been on a low-carb diet for awhile (I use the Protein Power diet, not Atkins), I have to remind myself to eat. I think processing complex carbs is something the body likes to keep doing once it starts, and it reminds you to keep feeding it regularly with hunger pangs.

[NPK]

I like to think that sugar feeds bacteria and bacteria grow better because of sugar.

So.. if you take in more sugar' date=' you allow more bacteria in your body to grow, thus you will get sick.

[/quote']

That doesn't sound right.

We need bacteria in our bodies to live. And if you have pathogens in your body that are making you sick, you have more problems than just diet! (unless you are eating contaminated food)

[Phi for All]

I don't know about the sugar/bacteria thing either. The premise behind the low-carb diets is to try to keep your blood sugar stable so you don't produce insulin to correct it. Insulin constricts blood vessels, which raises blood pressure. Insulin causes cholesterol receptors in the cells to retract, making the cells produce their own cholesterol instead of getting it from the lipoprotein packets in the bloodstream. Insulin tells the kidneys to retain salt, and thus a proportionate amount of water.

[SNAVEZNAD]

I usually get sick if I go off my Atkin's diet.

 

I like to think that sugar feeds bacteria and bacteria grow better because of sugar.

So.. if you take in more sugar' date=' you allow more bacteria in your body to grow, thus you will get sick.

 

When I'm on Atkins, I don't get sick. I haven't been sick for 8 months now.

I'm doing pretty awesome.

 

However, I'm very, very hungry most of the time and I can't get over it.

I guess my metabolism kicked back in.

 

I have experienced problems with flatuence however they seem to be related to some odd movements and feelings of the stomach.

 

I may have experienced some odd gastral effects but nothing too serious.[/quote']

 

 

you should't stay on the atkins diet for too long, your body needs carbs as energy, rather than using meat and your body fat. just eat less carbs rather than none at all. i also heard a few months ago that eating more than a certain amount of red meat a day can cause colon cancer:eek:

[Glider]

I usually get sick if I go off my Atkin's diet.

 

I like to think that sugar feeds bacteria and bacteria grow better because of sugar.

So.. if you take in more sugar' date=' you allow more bacteria in your body to grow, thus you will get sick.[/quote']

Sugar causes (some) bacteria to grow in a petri dish. We have immune systems. We also have colonies of beneficial bacteria that we need. We also evolved to use sugars as fuel.

 

When I'm on Atkins, I don't get sick. I haven't been sick for 8 months now.

I'm doing pretty awesome.

 

However, I'm very, very hungry most of the time and I can't get over it.

I guess my metabolism kicked back in.

See the 'fuel' thing above.

 

I have experienced problems with flatuence however they seem to be related to some odd movements and feelings of the stomach.

 

I may have experienced some odd gastral effects but nothing too serious.

Nothing that a balanced diet can't cure