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High Protein Diet Pros And Cons: Health, Nutrition, Dieting, Weight Loss And Fitness
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Published: May 31, 2007
High protein diets are one of many weight loss plans to choose from for those attempting to fight the battle of the bulge. There are even a variety of high protein diets to choose from such as Atkins and The Zone. Most of these high protein diets encourage dieters to consume 30-50% of their daily calorie intake from protein, as opposed to an average diet consisting of 10-15% of total calories derived from protein.
In addition to increasing the recommended amount of protein, some high protein diets also suggest limiting the amount of carbohydrates in a diet. While many claim these high protein diets are the best way to shed those unwanted pounds, some experts warn that high protein diets are merely a quick-fix diet loaded with potential health risks.
So what are the pros of choosing a high protein diet as a weight loss plan? One major pro of a high protein diet is its ability to help curb appetite, which is the attraction for most dieters. By reducing a dieter's appetite, high protein diets in turn make it easier to consume fewer calories, which results in weight loss. Another big pro of high protein diets is its immediate gratification for dieters due to the fast weight loss.
Although there are definitely some pros for choosing high protein diets, there is an even longer list of cons. Most cons of high protein diets are health related due to the fact that a lot of high protein diets fall short of meeting the nutritional demands of our bodies. High protein diets fail to promote a healthful variety of foods such as plant-based foods, which provide our bodies with essential vitamins and nutrients. For instance, ketosis can occur when eating a high protein diet and restricting carbohydrates. When the body enters into ketosis, it is entering into a dangerous metabolic state in which the body pumps out a substance called ketones, which have the potential to damage the body's organs to the point of organ failure.
High protein diets have also been linked to such health problems as osteoporosis and kidney stones. Most people don't realize that when they are eating a diet high in protein, their body can actually excrete an elevated amount of calcium through their urine. By doing so, they become more prone to develop osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Perhaps an even more obvious con of a high protein diet is the risk of developing high cholesterol. Eating a diet chockfull of artery-clogging culprits, such as steak and eggs, can contribute to high cholesterol, thereby paving the road to further health problems. Research has shown high cholesterol levels to be contributing factors to heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Another con of high protein diets is the short-term effects of the diet itself. Commonly, when dieters decide to return to a typical diet after being on a high protein diet, they find themselves gaining the same weight they worked so hard to lose. This is due to the fact that much of the weight lost on most high protein diets is water weight, not fat. Although dieters experience a rapid weight loss, they may also experience a rapid weight gain when they return to their normal eating habits.
If a dieter selects a high protein diet as their weight loss plan, experts recommend eating a moderate amount of carbohydrates rather than cutting them out of a diet completely. Be sure to make healthful choices. Try eating lean meats that are low in fat and still high in protein such as fish or chicken rather than opting for the greasy burger. Also, make sure to get in the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables in order to maintain proper nutrition. Along with proper nutrition, incorporating a regular fitness regime into a weight loss plan can help keep that extra weight off. By using fitness as a tool in any weight loss plan, dieters are more likely to have greater success at keeping those extra pounds at bay.
When shopping for the best weight loss plan, be aware of the risks. Although high protein diets are known to curb an otherwise unstoppable appetite, some high protein diets can prevent dieters from meeting proper nutritional needs, thereby opening the door to health problems such as ketosis, kidney stones, kidney failure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and even cancer.
Sources:
Hatfield, Heather. "Pros and Cons of High-Protein Diets.” WebMD. 13 Apr. 2006. 27 May. 2007. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/pros-cons-of-hi gh-protein-diets
High-Protein Diets. American Heart Association. 2007. 27 May. 2007. http://216.185.112.5/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11 234
Weight Loss: High Protein, Low Carbohydrate Diets. WebMD. 2005-2007. 27 May. 2007. http://women.webmd.com/guide/high-protein-low-carb ohydrate-diets
Zelman, Kathleen M. “Can a High-Protein Diet Help You Lose Weight?.” WebMD. 3 Apr. 2006. 27 May. 2007. http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/high-protein-diet- for-weight-loss
So what are the pros of choosing a high protein diet as a weight loss plan? One major pro of a high protein diet is its ability to help curb appetite, which is the attraction for most dieters. By reducing a dieter's appetite, high protein diets in turn make it easier to consume fewer calories, which results in weight loss. Another big pro of high protein diets is its immediate gratification for dieters due to the fast weight loss.
Although there are definitely some pros for choosing high protein diets, there is an even longer list of cons. Most cons of high protein diets are health related due to the fact that a lot of high protein diets fall short of meeting the nutritional demands of our bodies. High protein diets fail to promote a healthful variety of foods such as plant-based foods, which provide our bodies with essential vitamins and nutrients. For instance, ketosis can occur when eating a high protein diet and restricting carbohydrates. When the body enters into ketosis, it is entering into a dangerous metabolic state in which the body pumps out a substance called ketones, which have the potential to damage the body's organs to the point of organ failure.
High protein diets have also been linked to such health problems as osteoporosis and kidney stones. Most people don't realize that when they are eating a diet high in protein, their body can actually excrete an elevated amount of calcium through their urine. By doing so, they become more prone to develop osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Perhaps an even more obvious con of a high protein diet is the risk of developing high cholesterol. Eating a diet chockfull of artery-clogging culprits, such as steak and eggs, can contribute to high cholesterol, thereby paving the road to further health problems. Research has shown high cholesterol levels to be contributing factors to heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Another con of high protein diets is the short-term effects of the diet itself. Commonly, when dieters decide to return to a typical diet after being on a high protein diet, they find themselves gaining the same weight they worked so hard to lose. This is due to the fact that much of the weight lost on most high protein diets is water weight, not fat. Although dieters experience a rapid weight loss, they may also experience a rapid weight gain when they return to their normal eating habits.
If a dieter selects a high protein diet as their weight loss plan, experts recommend eating a moderate amount of carbohydrates rather than cutting them out of a diet completely. Be sure to make healthful choices. Try eating lean meats that are low in fat and still high in protein such as fish or chicken rather than opting for the greasy burger. Also, make sure to get in the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables in order to maintain proper nutrition. Along with proper nutrition, incorporating a regular fitness regime into a weight loss plan can help keep that extra weight off. By using fitness as a tool in any weight loss plan, dieters are more likely to have greater success at keeping those extra pounds at bay.
When shopping for the best weight loss plan, be aware of the risks. Although high protein diets are known to curb an otherwise unstoppable appetite, some high protein diets can prevent dieters from meeting proper nutritional needs, thereby opening the door to health problems such as ketosis, kidney stones, kidney failure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and even cancer.
Sources:
Hatfield, Heather. "Pros and Cons of High-Protein Diets.” WebMD. 13 Apr. 2006. 27 May. 2007. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/pros-cons-of-hi gh-protein-diets
High-Protein Diets. American Heart Association. 2007. 27 May. 2007. http://216.185.112.5/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11 234
Weight Loss: High Protein, Low Carbohydrate Diets. WebMD. 2005-2007. 27 May. 2007. http://women.webmd.com/guide/high-protein-low-carb ohydrate-diets
Zelman, Kathleen M. “Can a High-Protein Diet Help You Lose Weight?.” WebMD. 3 Apr. 2006. 27 May. 2007. http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/high-protein-diet- for-weight-loss
