The Atkins diet swept across America as one of the easiest ways to lose weight, after Dr. Robert Atkins published his book, Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution. Dropping calories became simple when Dr. Atkins described how a low-carb diet consisting of meat, cream, oils and fats would help the body.

According to Dr. Atkins, carbohydrates are digested quickly, leaving the body hungry for more food in a shorter period of time.

The diet consists of two parts. In the “induction” phase, which lasts two weeks, dieters limit their carbohydrate intake to fewer than 20 grams a day (one Nutrigrain bar has 26 grams). This is followed by the “maintenance” phase where dieters eat carbohydrates in moderation (less than 90 grams a day).

Although the diet does produce results, it is often debated about how healthy the diet is for the body. Health is more than just about weight, and the Atkins diet fails to address other health concerns.