nutrition facts

Every day
Americans consume heavily processed and refined foods because they mistakenly believe that healthier
more nutritious foods are too expensive to buy on a tight budget.

"It is incorrect and damaging to characterize eating whole foods as a luxury only the rich can afford
said Colette Heimowitz, vice president of education and research at Atkins Health & Medical Information Services.
While this notion plays into the pockets of manufacturers of processed foods
it couldn't be further from the truth. Unfortunately
by perpetuating this myth about whole foods
those parties responsible support unhealthy long-term eating habits."

The Atkins Nutritional Approach and similar regimens have demonstrated their weight loss and health benefits in numerous studies
Heimowitz said. For instance
a six-month study published in the November 2004 Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cardiology demonstrated that a low-carb diet significantly reduces body weight and decreases the level of triglycerides
LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood glucose
and increases the HDL (good) cholesterol.

"One of the best aspects of the Atkins Nutritional Approach is that it is a program that can fit into almost any budget
Heimowitz said.
It is important for people to realize that with a little ingenuity and creativity in the grocery store and kitchen
they can reap tremendous health benefits from whole foods without having to prepare elaborate gourmet meals."

Steak
often linked with following Atkins
is not the only available source of protein.

Lower-priced cuts of meat and poultry
ideal in hearty stews and casseroles
for example
offer the same nutritional value as more expensive prime and choice cuts.

Canned fish and less pricey selections such as cod and catfish also can help you control your carbs on a budget. Tofu
another valuable source of protein
can bring diversity to meals without breaking the bank.

Frozen vegetables and fruits -- provided that they have no added sugars -- are typically less expensive than out-of-season fresh produce but still provide the same dietary value. Frozen broccoli
spinach and berries are great low-carbohydrate flavor enhancers.