All Low Carb » Ketosis

The Problem With Almost All Low Carb/High Protein Diets

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:41:55 +0000

Do they work? Yes — you do lose weight initially on a High Protein/Low Carb diet but 90% of your initial weight loss is water. And that’s where the problems begin.

What happens after your body has shed its water weight? It starts to burn the left over fat and then, because it lacks carbohydrates to burn for energy, it starts to burn protein – your muscles. These diets induce a metabolic condition known as ketosis which is really an unhealthy condition found in people who suffer from kidney disease and diabetes. It is not usually found in healthy people. Burning protein is not healthy because protein is nature’s building material and is vital for repairing and rebuilding your body’s cells, tissues and organs. Advocates of the Low Carb/High Protein/Fat diets play down ketosis and claim it’s proof your body’s burning fat. That’s true in part. Ketosis does burn fat but will also, eventually, burn your body’s muscle tissue.

If you’ve ever been on one of these diets, you’ve noticed that your urine gets yellow. This is due to ketones which is a by-product of ketosis. This is evidence that your body is burning and breaking up muscle tissue which is protein. That’s dangerous because if too much of your body’s protein is broken down you could suffer irreparable liver and kidney damage. Further symptons of muscle breakdown is evident in general weakness, fatigue and lack of energy.

Another thing to consider about Low Carb/High Protein diets is that during the process of ketosis your body also breaks down fatty acids and converts them to ketones and acetones which are used for fuel. A side effect of this is that your body loses vital minerals like potassium and sodium. This reduces your thyroid hormone level which in turn slows down your metabolism and subsequently your rate of weight loss. Furthermore ketosis could boost your blood cholesterol levels which is definitely not a safe situation.

Once you stop the regimen the weight piles right back on and then some.

There’s a simple way to avoid this. Do not restrict your diet to any one food group or category.

Rather than blindly cutting Carbohydrates and increasing protein and fat intake, you should opt for a healthy ratio of 30% protein, 15% fat, and 55% Complex Carbohydrates. This ratio will help you to lose weight steadily and safely. The key is to reduce fat and SIMPLE carbohydrates not Carbohydrates in general.

Another downside of Low Carb/High Fat diets is that studies show that the less carbs you consume the more likely you are to consume more fat. And this excess fat is stored up in your body’s fat cells where they’ll linger indefinitely, clogging up your arteries with unhealthy cholesterol. Thus the more fat you eat the more your body will retain no matter how little carbs you eat, even if you eat no carbs at all.

Now here’s the secret about eating complex carbs. Because complex carbs have a low glycemic index your body has to use 250% more energy to convert these carbs into fuel than it does to convert fat into fuel. Your body works harder to metabolise and burn calories from complex carbs than it does High Protein/Low Carb. The result? Safe, systematic weight reduction – the best way to avoid health problems and sagging skin caused by too rapid weight loss.

Haley Abrams is a Nutritionist and Researcher at SunSlim-Diet sunslim-diet.com?is1 and AsherHealth asherhealth.com?is1.

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com

The Secret to Low Carbohydrate Diets

admin — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:24:23 +0000

My mom and I have been arguing how low carb diets work for years. She insists that the only way to lose weight is to expend more calories than you eat. I tell her that she must consider that insulin regulates the way your body stores and uses fats and sugars. So, if you know how your body works, you can use that to your advantage to lose a few pounds.

Here’s How Low Carb Diets Work:

1. You reduce your carbohydrates – i.e. bread, rice, pasta, high-starch veggies, sugar, fructose, honey, fruit, ketchup, salad dressing, gum & baked beans. Instead, you eat low-starch veggies, plus protein and fat – things like lettuce, peppers, turkey, eggs, cheese, olive oil, chicken, fish, seafood, beef & pork. This depletes your body of sugar in about two days.

2. The fewer carbs you eat, the less insulin you make. Note: Insulin is produced when your blood glucose levels rise. It controls sugar levels in your blood stream (otherwise you have a build-up of sugar in your blood, i.e. diabetes). Insulin also acts as a hormone to condition your body to store carbs as fat in case of starvation and it tells the cells not to release stored fat.

3. When you’re not producing Insulin, you go into a state of “ketosis”. Ketosis is when your body primarily uses fat as fuel since there is no fast-burning fuel (glucose) available. If you’re not burning sugar, you start burning fat and thereby lose weight. If you’re always eating candy, white bread, potatoes & pasta, plus the fat, your body continues to burn only the carbs and stores the fat. That makes you fat.

Talk to your doc before starting any diet plan. I have, and as directed I only significantly reduce my carbs for short periods of time, then re-introduce high complex carbs a little at a time (whole grains, quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes), always trying to avoid white rice, white breads, potatoes and refined sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup).

Go ahead and splurge on that wedge salad with blue cheese, a char-broiled steak with sauteed mushrooms, creamed spinach and grilled asparagus once in a while. Enjoy every bite. It’s all low-carb or no carb. If you’ve burned off the sugars from previous meals your body will burn the fat as energy. Yeah!

BUT, if you add a roll or two, or some potatoes, a glass of wine or dessert, your body will convert the carbs to glucose, release insulin, use the glucose as energy and store the fat. You will have consumed a gazillion calories that will stick to you like glue. That’s the danger of going off and on the carb wagon without knowing what you’re doing.

Other things that help the release of fat is drinking plenty of water and upping the cardio.

Niche Article Directory: http://www.thatsmyniche.com

Author Valerie Paxton is co-founder of medical supplies superstore www.AllegroMedical.com“>AllegroMedical.com. Allegro offers more than 45,000 medical supplies and lifestyle products including categories dedicated to Weight Loss Help and Exercise/Fitness.. Visit The Secret to Low Carbohydrate Diets.

The Truth About Low Carb Diets

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:53:39 +0000

Low carb diets are very effective in achieving weight loss when followed. But the key word there is that they should be followed. However, there are controversies about their “healthiness”. Definitely, people get into these diets to lose weight. But what every person getting into this is not only the aspect of losing weight but also as always, keeping the weight off. But it goes beyond that. It also involves being and staying healthy and functional in whatever we do everyday. A slim person is definitely not attractive if he or she is weak from lack of nutrients and energy due to these low carb diets.

The body uses up carbohydrates first as a source of energy. If there are more carbohydrates taken in, the body stores the surplus as fat. If there are fewer carbohydrates taken it, the body is forced to use the stored fat for its energy requirement. The principle of these low carb diets is to take in food low in carbohydrates so that the body is forced to use its stored fat.

By drastically reducing carbohydrates to a small fraction of a person’s diet, the body goes into “ketosis”. The body burns its own fat to convert into energy A person in ketosis is getting energy from ketones. Ketones are little carbon fragments that are created by the breakdown of stored fat. One feels less hungry when his or her body is in ketosis. The end result is that he or she is likely to eat less even if allowed to do so. In effect, the body is transformed from a carbohydrate-burning machine into a fat-burning one, thus making fat the primary energy source. This brings us to the most fundamental fact of dieting: the less fat you have, the lighter you weigh. The end result is the desired weight loss.

There are diets like Atkins that seem to be a dream come true. It stems from its design that a person could eat as much as he or she wants from a wide variety of food that other diets steer away from. Steaks, meat, crab, eggs, all types of protein based food are allowed since the body will burn carbohydrates first and not protein or fats. Basically, it follows the same low carb principle of reducing carbohydrate intake and forcing the body to use fat towards weight loss.

But experts are concerned about the long term safety of the diet. By contemporary medical standards, the risk of heart diseases, stroke, cancer, liver and kidney problems are very extremely high. These risks have been pointed out repeated by a number of health researches on high fat diets.

Other low carb diets are cleansing in nature such as the detox diet. It helps in the health reassessment of one’s lifestyle, eating patterns and focus on foods. Here, one becomes more aware of one’s food intake. However, there are individuals, such as diabetics, people with low blood sugar or eating disorders have to stay clear of it. They will find themselves more in trouble than they are already.

Low carb diets serve their purpose. But there is no substitute for the traditional, proven healthy lifestyle of a balance diet of the basic food groups in the nutritionists’ pyramid order combined with the proper exercise. However, should a person still go through with these diets for whatever reason, he or she should be equipped with knowledge of not only the benefits but most especially the risks. Everyone wants that slim, healthy look. But everyone should also go for health in a sustainable manner.

Tom Takihi is the proud owner of the Discover Network. For more information on this topic, please visit the dedicated portal: www.DiscoverWeightLoss.info

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com

A Simple Low Carb Diet Plan

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:21:31 +0000

At last estimate as many as 30 million Americans are following a low carb diet. Advocates contend that the high amount of carbs in our diets has led to the increase in such health problems as obesity and diabetes.

Some diets restrict carbohydrates to a point where the body becomes ketogenic. Ketosis is a physiological condition in response to chronic starvation and causes most of the body to utilize fatty acids as an alternative source of energy.

Most of us don’t need to reach such an extreme. Most of us just need to follow a few simple rules.

And most often these rules won’t mean total abstinence from the foods you love. Just a small deviation from your normal dietary routine. Better choices when it comes to which breads you choose and which snacks you choose too.

It’s not totally off limits to snack, just know that what most people consider snack food’s definitely out of the question.

With that in mind here’s a few ideas as to what should and shouldn’t be included in your low carb diet plan.

Cut out the processed fats including hydrogenated fats, polyunsaturated oils that have been heated, and fats that are combined with junk carbs. Processed fats are the culprits that put on flab and clog your arteries.

Cut the simple carbs like sugar, fructose, bleached flour, cornstarch and fruit juice. Stick with the whole fruit instead, with its fiber intact.

What you want to include are natural proteins, vegetables and whole fruits along with complex carbs such as whole grain breads.

Simple carbs are converted into fat which is stored by the body. This is exactly the problem that causes weight gain. Your body stores the fat for use later, when it thinks you are starving.

Complex carbs, on the other hand, are used for energy. These are good carbs. Yes, there are good carbs too.

This gives you a well balanced low carb diet that doesn’t completely rob you of energy producing carbs. Also by eating high fiber whole grains you’ll keep your insides clean and healthy and you’ll be more regular.

Personally, I like to snack on cheese and pepperoni slices. You get a good amount of protein and fat and virtually no carbs.

Drink plenty of water, excercise regularly and make a low carb diet a part of an overall lifestyle and you’ll surely lose weight, look better and improve your overall health.

Article Source: ADB Article Directory

Michael J. Harris is an avid weight lifter who believes in a good low carb diet plan as a part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Visit his blog at Low Carb Diet Tips

Discover All About The Atkins Diet – Also Know As The Low Carb Diet

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 07:07:15 +0000

Nearly everyone has heard of the Atkins Diet by now, even if not necessarily clear on what it is. Some may even know it as the source of “low-carb” diet craze in the country, but don’t know much about it beyond that. Considered as controversial as it is revolutionary, the Atkins Diet has worked successfully for a tremendous number of people, and not so successfully for a good amount of others. This article aims to place a neutral and objective eye on this popular weight loss program.

Re-introduced in the 1990’s (after an initial period of popularity in the 1970’s), the Atkins Diet is the brainchild of Dr. Robert Atkins.

The diet works in several phases, the first – or the “induction period” – lasting only 2 weeks. In this phase, dieters are not to eat any more than 20 grams of carbohydrates of any form each day. The bulk of a person’s diet during this period, then, is fats and proteins. Usually, a dieter will reach their 20 gram limit on carbohydrates simply from the small amounts in foods like salad dressing, cheese, sauces, condiments, and vegetables.

Forbidden from a participant’s diet during this 2 week induction period are fruits, grains, breads, cereal, milk, and vegetables with a high-glycemic index (a measure of the effect a food has on the body’s blood sugar).

During this period, the body enters a state called “ketosis”, where it begins burning its own residual deposits of fat in order to produce the energy for which it previously had been relying on your regular consumption of carbohydrates.

Atkins also asserts that the source of most weight problems people experience is an “insulin-resistance” that causes overweight bodies to have difficulty converting carbohydrates into glucose (or sugar) which becomes energy. In this state of ketosis induced by the induction phase of the Atkins Diet, the insulin function of the body is affected in such a way that impedes the production of more fat.

After the two week induction period ends, dieters are then permitted to increase their carbohydrate allowance by 5 grams each week. In other words: they’re allowed 25 grams of carbs per day throughout week 3, 30 grams of carbs per day throughout week 4, 35 g in week 5, etc.

Depending on the person’s body type and weight objectives, this gradual increase in carbs should level off somewhere between 40 g and 90 g per day. At this point, the dieter is considered to have entered the “maintenance” phase of the diet, where they ought to remain for the rest of their lives. Although counting calories is not a part of the Atkins Diet, studies by the North American Association for the Study of Obesity found that adhering to the restrictions imposed by the Atkins Diet led to a decrease of 1,000 calories from participant’s daily caloric intake.

A quick perusal of the recommendations published by most traditional health experts and health organizations will reveal that 40-90 grams of carbs per day is still a miniscule amount compared to that of what they consider a “standard” healthy diet.

The Atkins Diet also contradicts authorities (US FDA and the American Cancer Society included) that extol the virtues of eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads and cereals. According to Atkins, even “healthy” carbohydrates are harmful in large quantities.

Studies by the Annals of Internal Medicine and the New England Journal of Medicine have actually found that participants on the Atkins Diet experienced an improvement in heart disease indicators.

Like the 80’s and 90’s were to “low-fat” and “fat-free”, Dr. Atkins has helped make the early 21st century “low-carb”. Whether that’s for better or worse is up to you.

Article Source: ADB Article Directory

Ive been playing wow for something like 3 years. I know athe best strategies, tips and secrets for this game and i’ve compiled a freeworld of warcraft strategy guide so you can know everything that i know
Submitted by: Super Article Submitter

Is A Fast Weight Loss Diet A Healthy Choice?

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:27:56 +0000

With the countless fad diets on the market pushing misleading and deceptive claims it’s no surprise that nearly everyone who wants to lose weight is looking for a fast weight loss diet plan or program. An example of fast weight loss diets include low carb diets which instruct you to limit how many carbohydrate foods you eat.

In fact, fast weight loss diets, such as the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet, often have phases instructing you to put your body in a a state called “ketosis” where it switches from using carbohydrate for energy to using fat by eliminating carbohydrate from your diet. Not only will you lack many vital nutrients by doing this, it is very extreme and unnecessary, and very difficult to follow through.

What no-one tells you is that it’s only realistic for your body to lose two pounds a week of fat and anything else you lose on a fast weight loss diet will be either muscle or water loss. Not only is this very bad for your health but your body uses up fewer calories as you lose muscle. Water loss also causes you to become dehydrated, since your body is 75% water.

Another side effect of fast weight loss diets is that sudden changes in your diet where you eat a lot less than normal could trigger your body’s natural starvation response. Your body will then conserve its energy and won’t let go of your body fat, which is why often dieters find their fat loss stalling despite how low their calories are.

Something else to consider is that it is very likely that you will re-gain any weight you lost on a fast weight loss diet when you complete your diet. This is due to the extremely restrictive nature of low-carb diets which can result in cravings and subsequent binges as you fall back into your old way of eating, and is also due to the muscle loss which slows down your metabolism.

On top of all this you also have fast weight loss diet programs which tell you to pay for monthly supplies of “necessary” shakes, bars and other supplements while making huge weight loss claims in return. Since 9 out of 10 dieters return to dieting after putting the weight they lost back on imagine how many customers are sucked into the hype, invested hundreds of dollars on fast weight loss diets, only to find that despite all that money they invested they’re back where they started!

The key to successfully and permanently losing the fat is not to drastically lower calories, nor to label carbs as evil and avoid them like the plague, as many fast weight loss diets advocate. Instead, you will get more effective results by changing your eating habits and eating smaller, but more frequent meals and cutting way back on processed, fatty and high-sugar foods.

Fast weight loss diet plans and programs should be avoided if you want to lose the fat safely. The only solution to permanent weight loss is to make healthy eating part of your lifestyle by replacing your negative habits, and incorporate regular exercise into your routine. This should include both aerobic exercise which helps melt the fat off and strength/resistance training which will build muscle to speed up your metabolism and avoid muscle loss, something many fast weight loss diets are guilty of.

Why do 95% of dieters fail within one year? Why are fat burning pills a complete rip-off? Joseph Cole answers these questions and more in his revealing industry report “Weight Loss Scams, Myths and Cons Exposed”. Get your FREE copy today at: www.theantidietplan.com/1

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com

Discover All About The Atkins Diet – Also Know As The Low Carb Diet

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:39:43 +0000

Re-introduced in the 1990’s (after an initial period of popularity in the 1970’s), the Atkins Diet is the brainchild of Dr. Robert Atkins.

Studies by the Annals of Internal Medicine and the New England Journal of Medicine have actually found that participants on the Atkins Diet experienced an improvement in heart disease indicators.

Like the 80’s and 90’s were to “low-fat” and “fat-free”, Dr. Atkins has helped make the early 21st century “low-carb”. Whether that’s for better or worse is up to you.

Niche Article Directory: http://www.thatsmyniche.com

Low Carb Diets – What Are They and How Do They Work

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:19:38 +0000

Low carbohydrate diets have been made popular by weight loss schemes such as the Atkins diet and South Beach diet. They are appealing due to the fact that the foods you can eat are essentially the opposite of most other diets. That is, you eat a lot of protein and fats and very restricted carbohydrates.

The basis of this diet is that you require carbohydrates to produce insulin, and it’s this that makes you metabolise the fats in your food. Without the carbohydrates, you put yourself in the position that the food you eat goes essentially undigested. Your body reacts by using up it’s stored carbohydrates (in the form of glycogen) very quickly and you then go into a state of ketosis. This results in a very rapid initial weight loss since a lot of water is also stored with the glycogen.

Depending on the particular diet, the carbohydrate restriction can be very severe – for example on the Atkins diet, in the initial phases you may eat no more than 15-20 grams of carbohydrate a day. Also, the type of carbohydrate becomes important too. It becomes permissible to eat restricted amounts of fruit, but the real issue is refined carbohydrates, as these cause spikes in insulin production.

So, the foods which are a no-no are things which contain milled white flour and white sugar (and other sources of refined carbohydrates). These include

* Sugar
* Bread
* Cakes
* Sweets (candy to our American friends)
* Alcoholic drinks
* Rice
* Pasta
* any non-diet drinks
* almost all ready-meals

and also, in the initial strict part of the regime,

* Potatoes
* Rice
* Fruit
* Vegetables (apart from a small quantity of leafy green vegetables)

The things which you may eat are

* Any unprocessed fresh meat
* Unprocessed fish
* Eggs
* Cream
* Oils
* Cheese
* Nuts

A typical day on this kind of weight loss regime might consist of a cheese omellete for breakfast, perhaps some chicken and salad for lunch followed by steak and salad for dinner. So this type of diet is good if you are a meat eater, but near impossible if you are a vegetarian. It also seems to be more popular than some other regimes with men.

Some variations on this type of weight loss scheme allow you to eat fruit, but at least 30 minutes before any meal and at least 4 hours after any meal. This is so that the natural sugars in the fruit do not mix with the protein and fats in your main meal.

Still other variations also restrict your calorific intake to further hasten your weight loss.

However, do bear in mind that like all diet programmes, it relies on denial. In this case, denial of items like bread, sugar, alcohol, coffee, most desserts, many sauces, and almost all pre-packaged foods. It’s also relatively expensive since it’s all meat, fish and cheese.

Article Source: ADB Article Directory

Vince Lewis is webmaster for Free-Diet-Tracker.com which provides free tools for those trying to lose weight. Note that the site is run by dieters for dieters and so the site is totally free, not a free trial.

Specialist Diets versus Healthy Eating – Which Approach is Best for Weight Management and Health Maintenance?

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:55:40 +0000

This article discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of both specialist diets and basic healthy eating. I must emphasise that these are my own views and opinions, and I accept that not everyone shares or supports them! I have tried to offer evidence for the statements I have made throughout this article.

When I refer to specialist diets I am generally referring to diets such as the Atkins, Cabbage Soup, Drop a Jean Size, Slim-fast, low carbohydrate diets and low fat diets, to name but a few. But what do all of these diets have in common?

The majority of specialist diets aim to give people a simple to follow approach for restricting calorific intake, hence leading to weight loss. This is often dressed-up as something more than just calorie restriction, but the outcome is still the same. Usually this is achieved by limiting, or removing, one or more of the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins or fats) from some, or all meals throughout the day. So how does this impact on the nutritional requirements of the human body?

One example is the Atkins diet, which aims to alter the way the body produces energy by virtually removing carbohydrates from every meal. In Dr Atkins’ book he refer to a state called Ketosis, where fats are converted directly to energy when carbohydrates are not present. This diet has been seen to be very successful at achieving weight loss in a number of studies. But how can a diet be good for you if it alters your body’s natural energy production mechanisms? Ketosis only takes place when the body is starved of carbohydrates, but the central nervous system relies solely on carbohydrates for energy. How can this promote good health?

Another example of these types of diets is low fat diets, which acknowledge that fat accounts for a greater number of calories per gram than protein or carbohydrates. Hence they aim to minimise fat intake to reduce calorie intake. Although saturated fat can be harmful to the human body in large quantities, essential fatty acids play many important roles such as temperature regulation, hormone synthesis and most importantly, the absorption of many vitamins and antioxidants. Restricting fat in your diet can therefore lead to vitamin deficiencies, which can have a dramatic effect on a person’s overall health.

I am sure by now you are feeling confused about what diet you should follow in order to manage your weight and to maintain your health. My advice would be to aim to follow a general healthy eating plan, whilst trying to evaluate and approximate your calorie intake. For many of you this will not be information that you haven’t heard before, but you may have found it difficult to develop a healthy eating plan for yourself. On my website I have tried to provide the information that you will need to construct this plan. Take a look at the section on ‘Balancing Calories’ and the ‘Healthy Eating Guide’ (both in the Nutritional Information section of my site) and use the information to modify or overhaul your existing diet or eating habits.

So what are the disadvantages of following a healthy eating plan? The only thing that can be construed as a disadvantage (and wrongly so!) is that you will not see the miracle weight losses you see when you start a specialist diet. To address this point, (and to promote healthy eating) more often than not the vast quantity of weight lost in the first week of a specialist diet is due to water losses. When you hear of people losing 3 or 4 kilos in one week of dieting you may be amazed, but let me try to quantify this for you. To lose 1 kg of fat you must burn 7000 calories more than you consume and to lose 4 kg of fat would require a calorie deficit of 28,000 calories, but on average most people’s bodies burn around 2500 calories per day (17,500 per week). So as you can see it is almost physically impossible to lose 4kg of fat in 1 week. If you follow a healthy eating plan, taking in 500 calories less than you burn each day, you will lose 0.5 kg per week, every single week and your body will still receive the nutrients it requires maintaining a good level of health. You will also be developing an understanding of healthy eating, which you can employ for the rest of your somewhat longer life!!!

Article Source: ADB Article Directory

Please visit our website for more information www.healthierlifestyles.co.uk. Online store: www.healthierlifestyles.co.uk/shop/ . One-to-One Personal Trainer and Nutritional Advisor

High Protein Diet – Opposite to a Low Carb Diet?

admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:04:32 +0000

High protein diets are usually associated with low carbohydrates, even though people who have high protein requirements, like professional body builders, are not advised to go on a low carb diet. Protein is one of the most important nutrients necessary for health. The body uses it to build muscle, replenish cells, keep the blood in optimum condition, and basically to keep the body operating smoothly. If done properly, a high protein diet will keep you strong, healthy, and happy.

A high protein diet can provoke weight loss, as several studies have indicated. Proteins are composed of amino acids, and science has shown that if your amino acids are deficient, you are prone to a number of health problems, including obesity. If you concentrate on protein-rich foods and minimize your intake of refined food that have a high carbohydrate and sugar content, after a while, your body will enter into a state called ketosis. Instead of burning carbohydrates as fuel, the body will turn to fat as its primary source of energy. Simply put, the less carbs you have in your body to burn, the more fat your body will use to give you the energy you need to live from day to day.

In addition, it has been proven that eating protein-rich foods leaves you feeling full longer and you will find that you are much less inclined to snack or go on an eating binge. This is because your blood sugar and insulin levels are kept within the normal range you’ll be keeping undue hunger at arm’s length.

Going on a high protein diet does not mean, however, that you are free to gorge on any and every type of protein. You would do well to avoid fried foods dripping in oil or margarine-smothered products. The reason for this is because these foods contain so-called trans-fats and other bad oils and fats that can lead to clogged arteries and heart disease. However, there is a wealth of other types of fatty, protein rich foods that are quite nutritious.

As is common knowledge, meat is an excellent source of protein. Pork and beef contain ample amounts of this nutrient. But if you are concerned about fat, you should limit your portions of dishes containing meat. On the other hand, there is no need to worry about oils and fats if you eat fish and other seafood. Aside from being rich in protein, they contain essential fatty acids that improve your blood cholesterol levels and help prevent ailments like stroke and coronary artery disease. So you need not have any qualms about indulging your appetite at a seafood buffet – most of them can do no harm, only good.

Many plant products also have a rich amount of protein in them. Soy-based produce like tofu and soy milk are suitable for those trying to lose weight on a high protein regimen. So are pulses and beans. Not only are they protein-rich, they are usually low-fat and low-carbohydrate as well.

There have been concerns that a diet rich in protein can have adverse health effects. Some health experts claim that too much protein can deplete the body’s calcium supply and lead to diseases like osteoporosis. Another concern is that the kidneys are forced to deal with more byproducts, thus lessening their efficiency. And there are indications that too much protein increases uric acid levels, which can lead to gout or kidney stones. However, the jury is still out on whether protein is the major culprit in these conditions. More, longer-term research is needed to determine this although there are also many studies that are being conducted to explore these problems, their extent, and their possible resolutions.

A high protein diet may not be for everyone, but for a vast number of people, it not only helps them in their weight loss efforts, it keeps them healthy, too! If you are considering going on this diet, always remember your limits and stick to the rules. It’s possible to modify it a little bit in various ways (such as reducing the intake of saturated fats) to suit your personal taste, but don’t deviate from the “main course.” Choose your protein sources wisely, don’t forget to exercise, don’t be a glutton (it’s one of the seven deadly sins, after all) and just watch the pounds melt away.

Article Source: ADB Article Directory

Carb-club.com provides you with information on all kinds of issues like high protein diet and diets like the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, the Zone diet, and more. Come take a look at www.carb-club.com/