A High Protein Diet
Can be Dangerous
In response to the low-fat, low-calorie diets, the high protein diet, emphasizing low-carbohydrate and high-protein, has become quite popular over the past 30 years.
Among these high protein diets, the most well known are the Atkins Diet, and the Scarsdale Medical Diet.
They both preach that too many carbohydrates prevent your body from burning fat. They say that too much dietary carbohydrates cause an over production of insulin which promotes both fat storage and an increase of appetite.
The Atkins Diet
This diet consists of pure protein (lean meats), pure fats (oils, butter and cream) and combinations of both proteins and fats with very little fruits and vegetables. There is no milk, no bread and no starchy vegetables.
This diet became popular for a number of reasons;
- It provides initial weight loss from water loss, appetite loss and reduced intake of calories.
- It allows dieters to eat their favorite things such as unrestricted amounts of meat, fish, bacon and eggs, omelettes, cheese and poultry.
- There is little sacrifice which would definitely appeal to anyone looking for a quick fix
- It claims that carbohydrate restriction compels your body to burn fat stores for energy (This claim has been proven to be false)
Among the many concerns we have about this diet are:
- High proteins make excessive demands on your kidneys
- High fat (triglyceride) has significant cardiovascular implications (atherosclerosis) and is associated with some cancers
- This diet is low on magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and folate
- This kind of diet promotes high cholesterol
More dangerously your body would produce some chemicals called ketones. If ketones build up, a condition known as ketosis can cause headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, bad breath and can adversely affect existing conditions such as gout and kidney disease.
The lack of fruits and vegetables minimizes the intake of some nutrients and phytochemicals which we now know decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease.
The Scarsdale Diet
This diet protein diet promises fast results.
It includes specific fresh fruits and vegetables but small amounts of fat from lean sources of protein.
It encourages herbal appetite suppressants and artificial sweeteners.
It is low in calories and nutrients and recommends (wisely so) that you only stay on the diet for 2 weeks and then take 2 weeks off.
It does not speak of exercise and would not sustain you if you did decide to go on an exercise program.
I don't know about you but, this last point would send up a warning flag in my mind!
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High Protein Diet - Can be Dangerous
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