Protein Diet



The protein diet is a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrate. The high amounts of protein replace the carbohydrate you normally eat.



When you follow the protein diet you are advised to eat eggs, bacon, all other meats, cheeses, green vegetables and nuts.
This diet allows fat, as much as you want, which is present in meats, dairy products and nuts. The fat and protein help replace the carbohydrate you no longer eat.


Following this diet takes weight off quickly, despite eating lots of meat, eggs and dairy products, many of which contain (unhealthy) saturated fat.

The weight loss is largely due to loss of water which is normally stored in the carbohydrates your body no longer receives.


Things To Consider


  1. Lack of daily carbohydrate leads to less water storage, which can lead to kidney problems. Kidneys need lots of water to function properly. It is essential to store  water for use in most body functions.
  2. The saturated fat in meat, cheese etc. mostly contains cholesterol which your body does not want. It can lead to high cholesterol in the blood and finally cause heart disease.
  3. Fat, just like extra carbohydrate, converts to blood sugar(glucose) and body fat when not used up by exercise.
  4. A primary function of carbohydrates is conversion to energy. You can start feeling weak not eating much carbohydrate when following the protein diet.


Summary


If you eat very little carbohydrate you lose lots of WEIGHT. However when you eventually eat more carbohydrate the (essential) water is again stored in the body, and the lost weight returns.


This diet uses protein to replace carbohydrate, thus you need to eat a high amount of protein which generally has a high saturated fat content.


The fat also helps replace carbohydrate, which normally converts to energy for the body. Unless you use up excess energy with exercise it will convert to body fat and glucose in the blood.


You can lose a lot of weight on a protein diet, but it promotes eating little carbohydrate, and this is unhealthy in the long term. You need to eat carbohydrate for your body to function optimally.