Health Risks Associated with the Atkins Diet Low-carb, high-fat, high-protein diets like the Atkins diet are very harmful to your health long term. The Atkins diet emphasizes avoiding foods that contain a lot of carbohydrates such as pasta, fruit, vegetables and bread, while instead eating foods such as meat, cheese, peanuts and dairy products that are high in fat and protein. This eating habit ultimately takes a toll on your health because a certain amount of carbohydrates is a necessity for the body as they are a source of fuel. Additionally, meat and dairy products contain cholesterol, and when you eat this food in excess, cholesterol begins to build up in your arteries and blood vessels. This buildup can eventually lead to heart disease and various other health risks. Carbohydrates provide energy for the body to function. When these carbohydrates are not consumed, the body burns stored fat as fuel. As your body's fat intake decreases, you begin to lose weight. Therefore, the Atkins diet succeeds in short-term weight loss because carbohydrate intake is severely limited to less than 20 grams per day and will eventually rise to around 40 grams after a few weeks. This "translates to no more than three cups of packaged salad or two cups of salad with two-thirds of a cup of some cooked vegetables each day" (www.webmd.com). However, the body needs a certain amount of these carbohydrates and after some time after receiving them, the body no longer functions properly. According to Gail Frank, professor of nutrition at California State University, Long Beach, "The body needs a minimum amount of carbohydrates for efficient and healthy functioning: about 150 grams per day" (www.webmd.com). It states that less than 150 grams of carbohydrates disrupts the body's normal metabolic activity. Additionally, “the brain needs glucose to function efficiently and it takes a long time to break down fats and proteins to get to the brain” (www.webmd.com). Glucose comes from the breakdown of carbohydrates or sugar in the bloodstream; but it is also found naturally in fruit and honey. Therefore, the body needs a certain amount of good carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. High blood cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease.