The Newest Diet Craze?
According to WebMD the newest diet craze may be the "high protein diet." Huh? Is this any different than a low carb diet? That's what this inquiring mind wants to know!
Well there will be no surprises for those of you who read my diet ranting here, or who follow the Recipe Doctor, Elaine Magee, RD. Diets that are high in protein tend to limit the number of calories consumed in the form of fruits and vegetables, and without eating them you're not getting all those good for you vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants. These are the plant chemical that provide protection against cancer and other diseases.
Another problem with high protein diets is our tendency to choose the bad for you, high fat, high protein foods, such as red meats and bacon. I remember a diet a few years ago that was emphasized as low carb. People were eating hot dogs, bacon, steak, and other high-fat meat choices to their hearts' content and losing weight. The problem was they couldn't sustain it, and soon they were eating normally and regaining the weight.
This is because our bodies live on the sugar called glucose, and all foods are broken down to it at some point in their digestion. Carbs go first, then protein, but they eventually become glucose and the body "eats." When we restrict carbs we cause the body to use stored glucose from our muscles and liver for energy. As muscle breaks down it gives off water, we urinate more often, and this looks like fast weight loss (it's all water weight).
When we run out of these glucose stores we start burning body fat. Although this sounds good, it causes a build-up of a byproduct called ketones. This is called ketosis, and it causes headaches, irritability, and strain on the kidneys. The article sites a study that found that women who already had mild kidney disease had a faster progression of that disease when they ate a diet that was high in animal protein. Ketosis is also associated with heart arrythmias and the heart stopping. Seems like a pretty drastic way to lose weight to me!
Over the last 3 weeks I have lost 4 pounds. I have done it the good old fashioned way, eating anything I want. The secret is small portions, less snacking and better snack choices, and exercise.
A friend of mine who is a pharmacist was recently helping me to teach a diabetes class. His topic was medicines to help control diabetes. He came in with two paper bags full of props for his talk, and he started by telling people that the most important medicine for diabetes control wasn't in a prescription written by their health care provider. It was in their own hands.
On each side of both of his bags was a single word. The first side of a bag that he faced to the audience said "diet" and the second one said "exercise." My friend then talked about the benefits of eating well and exercise on diabetes control. When he got to the end of this part of the discussion he said, 'if you don't like my suggestion about diet and exercise, then try this,' and he flipped both bags around. Each had a new word written on them; they were "nutrition" and "physical activity."
There is no magic in losing weight folks, and if a diet sounds too good to be true, I bet it will be.
Take care, Laurie
Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.
Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ), O Magazine, July 2003
Related Topics: 10 Diet Rules Meant to be Broken, Video: Give Your Pantry a Healthy Makeover
Technorati Tags: high protein diet, nutrition, diet, weight loss
Well there will be no surprises for those of you who read my diet ranting here, or who follow the Recipe Doctor, Elaine Magee, RD. Diets that are high in protein tend to limit the number of calories consumed in the form of fruits and vegetables, and without eating them you're not getting all those good for you vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants. These are the plant chemical that provide protection against cancer and other diseases.
Another problem with high protein diets is our tendency to choose the bad for you, high fat, high protein foods, such as red meats and bacon. I remember a diet a few years ago that was emphasized as low carb. People were eating hot dogs, bacon, steak, and other high-fat meat choices to their hearts' content and losing weight. The problem was they couldn't sustain it, and soon they were eating normally and regaining the weight.
This is because our bodies live on the sugar called glucose, and all foods are broken down to it at some point in their digestion. Carbs go first, then protein, but they eventually become glucose and the body "eats." When we restrict carbs we cause the body to use stored glucose from our muscles and liver for energy. As muscle breaks down it gives off water, we urinate more often, and this looks like fast weight loss (it's all water weight).
When we run out of these glucose stores we start burning body fat. Although this sounds good, it causes a build-up of a byproduct called ketones. This is called ketosis, and it causes headaches, irritability, and strain on the kidneys. The article sites a study that found that women who already had mild kidney disease had a faster progression of that disease when they ate a diet that was high in animal protein. Ketosis is also associated with heart arrythmias and the heart stopping. Seems like a pretty drastic way to lose weight to me!
Over the last 3 weeks I have lost 4 pounds. I have done it the good old fashioned way, eating anything I want. The secret is small portions, less snacking and better snack choices, and exercise.
A friend of mine who is a pharmacist was recently helping me to teach a diabetes class. His topic was medicines to help control diabetes. He came in with two paper bags full of props for his talk, and he started by telling people that the most important medicine for diabetes control wasn't in a prescription written by their health care provider. It was in their own hands.
On each side of both of his bags was a single word. The first side of a bag that he faced to the audience said "diet" and the second one said "exercise." My friend then talked about the benefits of eating well and exercise on diabetes control. When he got to the end of this part of the discussion he said, 'if you don't like my suggestion about diet and exercise, then try this,' and he flipped both bags around. Each had a new word written on them; they were "nutrition" and "physical activity."
There is no magic in losing weight folks, and if a diet sounds too good to be true, I bet it will be.
Take care, Laurie
Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.
Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ), O Magazine, July 2003
Related Topics: 10 Diet Rules Meant to be Broken, Video: Give Your Pantry a Healthy Makeover
Technorati Tags: high protein diet, nutrition, diet, weight loss
28 Comments:
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Thank you, thank you, thank you. I started on the Medifast diet two weeks ago is using the Ketosis principal to lose weight. They have very little choices for "food" and besides some of the shakes, bars, puddings (only 2 choices), and cream soups, the others I ordered I just can hardly finish the month out. If I am reading your article properly, why are physicians having obese patients use this plan? What about the Nutrisystem diet? That one I am thinking about using after this month's Medifast items are gone.
That was an excellent article which boils down to, there is no substition for a good diet and exercise. What we've heard it all these years! As for the best assistance, good old Weight Watchers has helped me! And especially now, their new ice cream products, especially the fudge bar...their sandwich pannini's... thank you GOD! You can have the Lean Cuisine's, Health Choice, Smart One's...and add your fruit and veggies. There is no reason a person cannot stick to the WW diet these days. It is much easier and there are far more food options which you can continue to get for probably a fraction of the price, long after Nutrisystem has closed it's doors. And the thing about WW is that they help reteach you to eat, and make wiser choices in what you are eating. Although the weight loss might not come off as fast as you would like, it is steady. I've lost every week so far, except one, and that was my fault. And I've got alot more weight to get off, but I'm plugging away at it! Good luck to you!
I dont know, I lost over 40 lbs. in 4 months thanks to researching and following a low carb diet (Atkins). You cant eat any meat with nitrates on the diet if you follow it correctly. Ketosis gave me no problem, after the first week all those symptoms disapeer and you gain energy and have zero appetite. It works for anyone (other than diabetics for health risks). My BMI is now "normal", my labs are better than ever and I haven't regained a pound since eating a regular diet now for 6 months. I do excersize and limit portions though.
I have to say that for me trying the Adkins diet was a mistake. After the first three days on it I almost passed out while driving, I can't even describe how horrible I felt and it took me weeks to feel normal again. I'm a true believer of following a healthy diet and excercise, get some help if you need (exs: a nutritionist WW, LA fitness. just do it the healthy way.
I tried the Atkins diet at the advice of my doctor, but after one month of the diet I had not lost one pound and I had spent a lot of money on those products. So I was very dissappointed. My doctor told me he lost 25 pounds. However I did not have any side affects on the diet.
Can't we all just eat sensibly? I read all these comments and so many people live on frozen foods and fads. What about a good 'ol fashioned brown bag lunch every day at work? Instant oatmeal at breakfast, apple for snack, tomatos and avocados on whole grain bread for lunch with a banana and a yogurt? Chicken breast on the grill for dinner with a side of fresh brocolli? Everyone makes such a big deal out of this eating thing and it boils down to common sense. Eat whole, fresh foods! Period. Skip the sugars, skip the frozen, and you'll do great! Throw in a walk at night and the results will be amazing. Small kids? Start them off right too. They should be eating the same way and taking that walk with you. Thank you.
I am having a severe back problem - slip disc - and have been advised not to walk or carry any weight.
How then do I lose weight without any excercise? I don't know swimming.
I am a type 2 diabetic. This was an excellent article. I particularly liked the pharmacist approach with the grocery bag and diet on one side and exercise on the other.
People, treatment and diet are in our own hands. I just bought a new bike to help with the exercise part and I keep trying to be the best I can on the diet part.
I am 64 and will soon be on the bike trail with the best of them.
I'm allergic to all wheat products
barley, etc. I'm also allergic to eggs, peanuts,mold foods,chocolate.
High sugar foods make me feel terrible. I'm not to have any caffine or sugar drinks because of a bladder problem. So all the eat fiber diets are not for me. The only things I can eat are meats, veggies,and low acid fruits. I've
been doing low carb because of medical reasons for many years. My weight stays lower now and I feel better. If people would stop eating JUNK food - chips, cola, candy, procressed, and fast foods
they would not be sick all the time. Children would do better in school and obesity would elimate itself.
To the person who can't walk because of a bad back: Not being able to swim I bought a "Noodle", put it under my arms which keeps me up in the water, staying close to the shallower end but in deep water and move my legs - kicking, walking in the water, cross-country ski in the deeper water.The water keeps the pressure off my back, lets me get some good exercise for 1 hour with no pain. Following a healthy diet I am progressively losing weight. It is slow but steady.
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Hi, Laurie,
I appreciated your comment on the "Hi-Protein" diets. I tried Atkins several times with tremendous success, losing over 100 pounds rather quickly each time. As soon as I started eating carbs, however, I gained it all back plus even more. Having now had a gastric bypass, my doctor prefers me to stay on a "hi-Protein" diet, primarily to help me get my required 60 grams of protein a day... But I cetainly realize its not for everyone, and my situation is far different from most.
BTW... I answered you question that you left in a comment on my blog...
I vigorously disagree with Laurie's article: at 43 and 40lbs overweight, I was diagnosed with a fairly serious case of type II diabeties, and the doctor wanted me to go on drugs and a "sensible and balanced" diet high in complex carbohydrates. When I told him that's what I had been eating for the last 20 years he dismissed my protestations and wrote the prescription. I then did my own research and discovered that the body becomes immunine to the drugs with time, so they should be put off as long as possible via diet and excercise. I settled on the Adkins diet to avoid the sudden spike of blood sugar caused by the rapid conversion of complex carbs to glucose, followed by a flood of insulin to counteract the sugar spike. The Adkins diet also appealed to me because, far from being a "miracle diet", it not only includes plenty of vegetables but stresses excercise as a "non negotiable" part of the diet. The diet is high in fat, but much of the fat is of the vegetable type (olive, etc.) and all those "good vitamins" cannot be absorbed by the body without fat anyway. Two years later I don't eat just red meat but plenty of fish and LOTS of green leafy vegetables and berries, from which I get most of my carbs. My cholesterol is at a good ratio, my blood sugar is normal -- though it will get out of hand within a week if I cheat -- and my excercise routine is pretty tough, even for a young guy. I lost 30 pounds of fat and gained back ten pounds of muscle (I had this measured with a water displacement test) and have remained there for over a year and a half. The remark about the weight loss being "all water" is frankly unbelievable, just mind boggelingly out of kilter with the evidence of my experience (especially since the Adkins diet instructs you to drink large amounts of water.) Where did she get her research data to back up that statement, from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals? I recently visited my doctor again and smiled to myself as he praised the results I achieved with "his advice" (specifically, those results were that I was "healthier than most of his 30 somethings.") I have ten times the energy I did two years ago, my mood is better, I'm even being hit on by women again, and some have remarked about how healthy my hair and skin look -- ask yourself: would this happen to diabetic who simply dehydrated himself for two years? Last, Ketosis is a dangerous symptom for diabetics because it is typically caused by high blood sugar; however, of itself it is not dangerous, and certainly not when caused by metabolizing body fat. Most of the people who try the Adkins diet don't do it correctly (as evidenced by some of the posters here) and the results are obvious. I did it exactly the way the book instructed and the results have been wonderful.
Correction: In my post above (the one that disagrees with the article so strongly) I got in a hurry and described ketosis as if it were ketoacidosis. The first is caused by metabolizing body fat and is not harmful. The second is caused by high blood sugar and can be lethal. They are not the same thing, and the fact that a nurse would confuse the two is disturbing. Also I forgot to mention, I had a mild case of high blood pressure two years ago, not bad enough to require medication but it was something to keep an eye on. Today my blood pressure is normal, again without the use of drugs (I never used the medication for diabetics either.)
not really a comment but more of a question - I recently started taking out alot of carbs from my diet and added alot more fruits and vegetables. now I pee all the time and my urine is flourescent yellow. Is this normal?
A QUESTION NOT A COMMENT,CAN I AS A TYPE 2 DIABETIC HAVE WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
Since doing an Atkins type diet for over the last year (and dropping over 100 lbs) I've found that I get a LOT more nutrition from food than I used to. I average about 40 grams of fiber/day from vegetables and fruits, and about 2000+ grams of calcium/day from dairy, and about 80+ grams of protein per day.
I don't understand why a low carb diet is knocked as being deficient in fiber and calcium??? I keep hearing that and it couldn't be further from the truth.
Besides, now my hyperinsulinism is under control and I have NO symptoms of polycistic ovary syndrom any longer. These problems were all remedied about 5 months into starting to cut out the sugars and starches. I also started walking about 1/2 mile per day which really keeps me kicked into ketosis good. I still have 50 lbs. to lose.
I DO eat some legumes each day...about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cooked beans, lentils, etc. and lots of fresh veggies. And I keep my carb under 40 grams-60 grams per day. If I'm hungry, I eat, even if it's 1am.
I like to get about an equal amount of carbs and fiber each day, and at least double the amount of protein to fiber ratio. It works great for me and my diet has never been more natural and balanced as it is now.
I feel like I'm eating the same type of diet that my great-great grandparents used to eat, and they all lived into their 90's.
I forgot to mention that after about 1 year on a low carb, high protein diet, as of 3 months ago my bad cholesterol was 113, good cholesterol 92, and triglycerides were 58...my doctor was very pleased.
I just posted above and I forgot to mention that after about 1 year on a low carb, atkins type diet, as of 3 months ago my bad cholesterol was 113, good cholesterol 93, triglycerides 58...and my doctor seemed thrilled with this.
I just posted above and I forgot to mention that after about 1 year on a low carb, atkins type diet, as of 3 months ago my bad cholesterol was 113, good cholesterol 93, triglycerides 58...and my doctor seemed thrilled with this.
I also had a bone density test about 6 months ago and my doctor said my bones look "excellent". I'm in my mid thirties.
SLIP DISC!
workout with sitting position and lying position.
There are so many things you could do while sitting/lying down --stretching,swinging arms,kicking legs, holding weights while lying down, etc.
I have tried Atkins type diets in the past and they worked wonders. Overeaters Anonymous calls it ABSTAINANCE. That is what I need as SUGAR is my drug of choice. The key is to remember Atkins says it's a LOW CARB LIFESTYLE not a diet. You MUST keep up the exercise too. As for me, life keeps getting in the way so the PT has fallen away and now I am trying to get started again.
Have to disagree..I lost 40 pounds on the "low carb diet" and kept it off for 7 years so far. My total cholesterol level went from 170 to 140. My motto is "NEVER SAY NEVER". What works for one person may not work for another. To quote a famous person...If at first you don't succeed, try again and then quit...no sense being a damn fool about it. - DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU! I did NOT eat a lot of fatty foods and did eat a lot of veggies, no diet soda, nothing with fake sugar. Alot of water and a lot of will power. I have Polycystic Ovarian Disease and hyperinsulinism.
how has medifast worked for anyone? Are there any thyroid patients who use it? Tbanks
This is a question - does anyone have anything to say about Nutrisystem?
MediFast works well for me, but only because I can only lose weight when being Spartan about food. Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig do not work for me; NS has HORRIBLE food, and JC gets expensive, repetitive, and makes me hungry all the time. In addition, it took me two months on JC to lose the weight I lost on MediFast in two weeks. MediFast would be difficult, however, for someone who has to have a variety of foods, or has a lot of weight to lose. Another good thing about it is that you don't have to buy into a program, you just buy what you want WHEN you want, and can start and stop anytime.
I've been on the Fat Into The Fire diet program. It is a brand new program that explains the importance of eating protein with all meals and snacks to maximize the metabolism. I love the program. They even have a free online support team and blog on their website. I now know how important it is to not just have a carb snack, but a snack that includes proteins. This could be something as simple as a few nuts, but it makes a tremendous difference. Thanks.
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