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
