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Are high-protein diets safe?
I have been following a high-protein diet for two months and I have lost half of the weight I needed to lose. The diet is based on replacing three meals with a small packet containing high-protein powders to be diluted in water. I am not allowed any type of sugar or carbohydrates. I eat just lean meat and vegetables for dinner. Will this hurt my health if I continue the diet for another two months?
The problem with high-protein diets is that this ketogenic state is unhealthy for several reasons. First, the brain relies on glucose for its fuel (primarily derived from carbohydrates). When you burn fat to release energy, as you do on a low-carb diet, less glucose is produced and the ketones generated aren't adequate to fuel the brain.
Secondly, as the body tries to eliminate ketones through the liver and kidneys, it puts a severe strain on these organs. Also, after several days of having high levels of ketones in your system you may experience dehydration, weakness, nausea, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, irritability and, in severe cases, gout and kidney problems. In addition, this ketogenic state can be particularly dangerous for people with medical conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, kidney problems and diabetes.
Staying on a high-protein diet for several weeks is considered unhealthy because diets high in protein can increase calcium loss from the body, which may increase the risk of osteoporosis. People with medical problems, especially those associated with the kidneys or liver, may be at risk from serious health problems. This is due to the stress placed on these organs as they work to eliminate ketones and other compounds such as urea (a by-product generated from the breakdown of protein) from the body.
It is difficult to maintain this kind of diet over a long period of time because your food choice is so limited. As with any diet, as soon as people come off it, they revert back to their old eating habits and regain the weight they lost. If you're trying to lose weight, the best method is to exercise regularly and lower your calorie intake but still eat a balanced diet that doesn't eliminate specific food groups. Ultimately, it is the consumption of excess calories rather than carbohydrates that leads to fat being stored in the body. Successful weight loss and weight management is achieved through eating a variety of foods, including plenty of fruit and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates, and a protein source at each meal.
Why not chat to other iVillagers about high-protein diets on the The Atkins Diet message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:
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