The Atkins diet is one of the most famous diets in the world. If you live in a Western world country, it is almost certain that you've heard about it. Evidently, the Atkins diet is one of the most advertised diets ever. Millions have already tried this eating plan. In 2003, Over 3 million people gave this diet a shot in the UK alone. The obvious question is: why is the Atkins diet so popular?

According to the Atkins diet, a combination of eating high-fat food and consuming a small amount of carbohydrates will work. Think about it, you can still enjoy eggs, cheese, steaks etc and lose weight at the same time. It sounds too good to be true, if you ask me. However, take into consideration that you don't get bread or pasta with your steak and I mean NONE, which might become quite an issue after a few days. The idea is simple – the reduction of your carbohydrates intake will force your body to obtain energy by using the stored fat.

The Atkins diet is comprised of several phases:

1) The first phase is called the Induction Phase and it lasts two weeks. During this phase you can eat chicken, cheese, mayonnaise, butter, fish, red meat, eggs and cream. You are not allowed to eat potatoes, pasta, milk, rice, fruit, vegetables, pastries etc. and you can kiss goodbye to junk food and soft drinks as well.

2) The second phase is known by the name Ongoing Weight Loss. It allows you to increase your carbohydrates intake by 5 grams per day starting from 20 grams per day. The goal is to find the maximum carbohydrates intake before your body is no longer able to lose 1 to 3 pounds a week. Once you've reached that point your carbohydrates intake shouldn't be increased anymore (until the next phase). The second phase should last until you need to shed 5 to 10 pounds in order to achieve your desired weight.

3) The next phase is referred to as the Pre-Maintenance stage. The goal is to increase your carbohydrates intake by 10 grams a day until your desired weight is reached.

4) You are now ready for the Lifetime Maintenance stage – eating 90 grams of carbohydrates per day in order to maintain the weight you've achieved.

Well, it sounds like a great diet. However, there are some side effects you need to take into consideration. While some people did OK on the Atkins diet, others got kidneys infections due to the excessive consumption of protein content. Some heart problems were reported - a result of the fat food. You should also expect constipation thanks to the lack of high-fiber fruit and vegetables. Moreover, the lack of many dairy products causes a significant drop in the amount of calcium your body absorbs (bone conditions in the future).

Due to its possible side effects, we do not recommend this diet. If you want to lose weight but stay healthy and avoid many bad side effects, make your diet as balanced as possible. Include all of the nutrients in your diet and make fruit and vegetables a main part of your diet. Don't forget to exercise regularly and effectively and use the best diet pills you can find.