Some diets are based on solid principles, while others are nearly impossible to follow. There are also those that simply don’t work in the long run.

One diet that shows promising results, based on a very low intake of carbohydrates is the Atkins diet. While it has received some controversy over its allowance of high fat, statistics show that followers are losing weight more quickly than they are on other diet plans.

The Atkins nutritional philosophy is that carbs are weight gain culprits that are converted into fat by the body’s insulin, and that restricting processed and refined carbs will cause weight to plummet healthily.

The advantage for dieters? They get to eat meat, cheese, eggs, and fats (including butter and oil). The disadvantage? Healthcare professionals have warned that a diet high in fats puts one at risk for high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Also, eliminating carbs means saying goodbye to pasta, potatoes, rice, and cake items.

But Atkins still remains one of the most popular diets because it is relatively easy to maintain once the initial phase has passed, and a low carb lifestyle becomes second nature. However, it is important to contact a healthcare professional before starting Atkins, especially if you are at risk for heart disease.

For a review of this diet and 3 other diets by the American Cancer Institute see the following article by TheDietChannel: Popular Diets Versus Dietary Guidelines.