
Participants in the Eco Atkins vegan study ate primarily plant protein in the form of nuts, beans, soy burgers and beverages, tofu, gluten, cereals, and vegetable products such as veggie bacon, burgers, breakfast links, and deli slices.

Want to try the low carb vegetarian or vegan Atkins plan for yourself? Follow this formula developed by the study:ģ1% of your total calories should come from protein. Additionally, ApoB-, a component of LDL that is related to heart disease, fell significantly more for the Eco Atkins low carb dieters than it did for the vegetarian group, whose diet consisted of more carbs. Participants on the Eco Atkins diet, however, saw a greater reduction in their “bad” LDL cholesterol than did the group on the low-fat vegetarian diet. Over the course of the study, both groups lost the same amount of weight and improved their blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Common starchy items like bread, rice, potatoes, and baked goods were eliminated. On the Eco Atkins diet, protein accounted for 31% of total calories, fat accounted for 43% of total calories, and the remaining 26% of total calories were carbohydrates. All subjects in both groups were overweight at the start of the study, which lasted one month. Both diets in the study met researchers’ low-carb and high-protein criteria, were low in calories (providing 60% of the study participants’ calorie requirements), and allowed for exercise. The result of their study was the Eco Atkins diet, which had a similar ratio of protein and carbs as the original Atkins diet, but replaced high-fat animal protein with vegetable protein.įor their study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers put one group of participants on either 1.) the vegan Eco Atkins diet or 2.) a lacto-vegetarian diet, which consisted of more carbs and less fat. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, who set out to determine whether a high-protein vegetarian or vegan diet could promote weight loss and help reduce “bad” cholesterol. This vegan Atkins diet alternative was developed by researchers at St. Yes! If you are vegetarian or vegan, you can follow a low carb diet like Atkins® while still reaching your weight loss goals and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
