Dieters today are bombarded by claims that low carbohydrate,
high protein is THE way to go…but is it really? Protein
is an essential nutrient needed for the creation and renewal of
muscle, skin, hair, nails, blood and other body tissues. Protein
also helps in many other biologic functions. However, carbohydrates
fuel the body. Without carbohydrates, the body would be without
energy to build and rebuild tissue. People on high protein diets
place their bodies in altered metabolic states...
When there are not enough carbohydrates introduced in the body
via diet, the body starts converting fat and protein into carbohydrate.
Over time, this process can strain the body as the conversion
of fat and protein into carbohydrate produces excess uric acid,
urea and by-products called ketones. These toxins can cause headaches
and kidney problems.
Yet high protein diets remain popular because they indeed provide
weight loss results. They do this in a couple of ways. One is
by helping blood sugar levels remain constant, thereby reducing
hunger pangs and the total number of ingested calories, inducing
weight loss.
Another is that high protein, low carb diets are reasonably restrictive
as they eliminate many food groups, causing a decrease in one's
total calorie pool. High protein diets also cause weight loss
through water loss as the body tries to flush out the resulting
ketones. How often have you heard that high protein, low carb
diets are unhealthy? Several times undoubtedly. This is simply
because they can indeed cause harm.
These diets can cause:
1) An increase in calcium excretion and increased risk of osteoporosis.
2) Reduced intake of vitamins, minerals, fiber and cancer fighting
phytochemicals from elimination of some food groups.
3) The kidneys to produce concentrated urine.
4) Diabetics with neuropathy to suffer even further kidney damage.
5) Headaches
6) Bad breath from ketones.
