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High Protein Diets - Health RisksMany people ask about High-Protein weight loss diets, which also go under the names of the Atkin's Diet, the Carbohydrate Counting Diet, and the Drinking Man's Diet. The original version of the Grapefruit Diet which also used only protein, but included the use of grapefruit, can also be classified as a High-Protein diet. Basic Principles of High-Protein Weight Loss DietsHigh-protein weight loss diets are all more or less based on the use of large quantities of protein foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese and milk products, and the exclusion of all carbohydrate foods. Some of these diets permit the use of the so-called 'free vegetables and fruit' which contain only small quantities of carbohydrate (e.g lettuce, cucumber, grapefruit, strawberries, etc). 2 Basic Principles of High-Protein Diets
Do High-Protein Weight Loss Diets Work?The answer to this question is, "Yes, they do lead to weight-loss which can be quite substantial in some cases, but (and here lies the rub) the weight is lost at a terrible price, which can in some cases, even kill the dieter!" This is what happens when you deprive your body of its carbohydrate energy source:
So although you will lose body fat on a high-protein weight loss diet, you will be exposing your body to a great many risks. You may damage your kidneys, and your liver, you will be depleting your muscle tissue and you may even die. The latter risk is well documented and regular reports are published in the medical literature describing deaths that result from the use of high-protein weight loss diets. Other Side-Effects of High Protein Diets
Indications that High-Protein Diets are Not Good For YouOne of the most telling indications that High-protein Slimming Diets are not good for you, is the fact that most of the diet books that advocate such diets, always warn that you should only use the diet for one, or a maximum of two weeks, at a time. The writers know that these diets are fraught with negative effects, so they cover themselves against law suits, etc, by issuing these warnings. If you use these diets and suffer adverse effects, the blame rests with you for using the diet for too long. Alternatives to High-Protein Weight Loss DietsThe best alternative to High-protein Slimming Diets, is to use a balanced diet with a low fat, high dietary fibre and high carbohydrate content, and to increase the amount of aerobic exercise you do. Use plenty of wholegrain, unprocessed grains, high-bran cereals, fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish, low-fat or skimmed milk and dairy products, legumes and small quantities of polyunsaturated oil or margarine. Make sure that you don't add fat to the diet by using cooking methods or salad dressings and sauces that have a low fat content - grill, poach, and stew, and use low-fat salad dressings, and low-fat yoghurt mixed with fresh herbs to add flavour to baked potatoes and salads. And get active - walk or jog, join a good gym or start doing water aerobics now that the weather is getting warmer. The goals of a good slimming diet should be to reduce body fat, preserve lean muscle tissue, and keep you healthy and fit. Any diets, including the high-protein weight loss diets that are potentially risky and can harm your health, should be avoided. Source: Dr I.V. van Heerden, Registered Dietician. Delicious Diet for Healthy Weight Loss Diet
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