Difference between Atkins and keto diets:
Both of these diets depend on the same principle of lower carbs but high protein and fat content, but they differ in that:
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- The Atkins diet is easier to follow and to get used to quicker than the keto diet as it offers a wider variety of foods and meal plans.
- The Atkins diet is more sustainable and with set rules and guidelines which makes it easier to stick to till you reach your desired goal of weight loss
- The Atkins diet is very rich in protein content, unlike the keto diet which is heavier in fat and helps you build muscles.
- The Atkins diet mandates low carbs only in the beginning stages in the induction phase but as you go on the carb content gradually increases, unlike the keto diet which depends on low carb content throughout the whole diet.
- Atkins is safe as you don’t need to check the level of ketone bodies, unlike the keto diet where the risk of ketosis is higher and requires constant evaluation.
- The Atkins diet with its higher protein content can lead to more kidney stone formation which is less frequently associated with the keto diet.
There is a difference between ketosis which is the goal of the Atkins and keto diets and pathological ketoacidosis in which the ketone production exceeds the body’s ability to eliminate those excess ketones. ketoacidosis is noticed when the ketone body level is more than 10mmol/l which is commonly a complication of type 1 diabetes but in ketosis, the ketone bodies level doesn’t exceed 3 mmol/l.
