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Very yellow meal (Photo by moria - CC-BY)

The Eco-Atkins diet is a modern version of the Atkins weight-loss plan. The high percentage of  meat and dairy products associated with the original Atkins diet has been replaced with a broad spectrum of plant-based proteins and healthy fats. Primary sources of vegetable protein in the Eco-Atkins diet include soy,  gluten (wheat protein), beans and grains while olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds provide healthy fats.

The new Eco-Atkins diet is attributed to  Dr. David Jenkins, a professor of Medicine and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto.  For the clinical trial, Dr. Jenkins devised an eating plan that replaced the fatty meat, cheese, eggs and dairy products of the original Atkins diet with soy and other vegetable proteins.  The intent of the study was to determine if participants could replicate the initial 5kg weight loss exhibited by participants in the original Atkins diet.

The clinical study involved 44 overweight  individuals with high cholesterol. Half of the subjects consumed the Eco-Atkins diet with a daily percentage of 43% fat and 30% vegetable protein. This translated into roughly 150 grams of protein per day. The remaining individuals consumed a vegetarian diet with a smaller percentage of protein.

After four weeks, both groups lost approximately 4kg, but the Eco-Atkins subjects revealed another  surprising health benefit. LDL cholesterol levels in the Eco-Atkins group dropped by about 20%, compared to a drop of 10% in the control group. Twenty-three individuals who continued the diet for a further six months lost an additional 2kg, which is about 4 ½ pounds.

High-protein diets are considered advantageous for weight loss because they allow individuals to retain a greater feeling of fullness throughout the day. Vegetarians who were left out of the older Atkins plan might want to give the new Eco-Atkins diet a try!

Read more on high-protein diets and weight loss.