Atkins and Unprocessed Foods

 

When you first start out on the Atkins program, you may be tempted to take advantage of many of the low carb products currently on the market. There is a wide variety of packaged items that are specifically manufactured to be low in carbohydrates. 

These include low-carb snacks, low-carb baking items, and low-carb substitutes (like pasta or bread). While it may be tempting to fill your shopping cart with all of these products, it is best for your diet and health to use them in moderation.

One of the key things to remember about the Atkins diet is its focus on raw and unprocessed foods. The center of the diet, as the Atkins diet food pyramid shows, is fresh vegetables and fresh meats. Natural cheeses, a selection of fruits, and eventually unprocessed whole grains are added to the mix. There are no packaged meats, canned vegetables, or anything instant.

There is a reason that the Atkins Food Pyramid lists these foods in their raw state. There are great health benefits to minimally processed foods. 

Raw and whole foods retain more vitamins and nutrients than foods that have gone through chemical and industrial processes. Manufactured foods are more likely to be contaminated with chemical additives that can cause a host of problems.

Raw, fresh food ingredients provide the best foundation for a healthy diet. Many dieters rely on foods that are technically allowed on the plan, but are not good for your health. An example is bacon.

Many people on the Atkins diet eat a lot of bacon. In fact, many use it as a daily part of their protein foods. However, bacon contains high amounts of sodium nitrite, an ingredient known to cause cancer.

The more bacon they eat, the more they are exposed to this chemical and many others.

The Atkins pyramid and Atkins diet books recommend unprocessed, unrefined, and unmanufactured foods for a reason.

If people follow these recommendations, they will lose weight and experience health transformations. By eating fresh, natural foods, you will provide your body with the nutrients it needs for optimal health.

Let's go back to low carb packaged and processed foods. Technically, they are part of the low carb program. They can be used in moderation as a substitute for your favorite high carbohydrate foods.

In a pinch, low carb bread and baked goods can help you beat cravings and add variety to your Atkins diet plan. However, a look at the labels on these products shows just how chemically processed these items can be.

It is recommended that you use these products in moderation. In some people, low-carb packaged products trigger carbohydrate cravings. This can make staying on the diet even more difficult. 

If you find that low carb processed foods make you want to binge on high carb foods, then you better stay away from these products. These products may also have hidden carbohydrate counts that will increase your daily carbohydrate level without you even knowing it.

If you are experiencing weight loss stagnation on the Atkins plan, reevaluate your commitment to raw and unrefined foods. If you've been eating too many low-carb processed foods, you may be eating hidden carbs and eating more than you need. 

Try eliminating these products and refocusing your diet on unprocessed and unrefined foods, such as those seen in the Atkins Diet Pyramid.

When you go grocery shopping, spend time on the outside edge of the store where fresh and unprocessed foods are found. This will help you avoid the temptation of packaged foods that can throw off your diet.

You may need to rely on packaged meats, vegetables, and fruits from time to time. We lead busy lives and prepared meals are part of life. It is understandable that you need to use canned soup, bacon, or vegetables in your daily life. 

However, make an effort to focus your dietary efforts on a wide variety of fresh and unprocessed foods. Your weight loss and health efforts will pay off greatly.