Atkins diet 'is beneficial and twice as effective as rivals'

The controversial Atkins diet, which severely restricts carbohydrates in favour of unlimited amounts of fat and protein, is twice as effective as conventional diets at shedding excess pounds, new research has shown.

In a six-month trial, volunteers following the regime lost twice as much weight as those on more traditional low-calorie, high-carbohydrate diets.

And despite fears that the bestselling diet could be harmful in the long term, researchers found that the diet protected against heart disease by increasing levels of "good" cholesterol.

Full article: telegraph.co.uk