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High Protein Diet: An Unhealthy Way to Lose Weight?

Obesity is an increasing problem in the United States and other Western countries, and all forms of reducing diets have been tried, praised, and decried. But in recent years, one of the most popular techniques to lose weight has been the high protein diet. Despite its success among many people, there have been concerns regarding its long-term effects on an individual’s health.

What is so attractive about the high protein diet – especially if it’s integrated with a low carb diet – is the significant amount of weight loss one would achieve in a short span of time. But not all high protein diets are automatically low carb ones; body builders, for example, consume large amounts of protein-rich foods but also maintain a healthy amount of carbohydrates in their diets. However, there has been some debate as to the effectiveness of protein-rich regimens for body builders; a number of scientists claim that excess protein does not help build muscle, it is just burned or excreted.

Research does show that there are a number of benefits to concentrating on high-protein foods. For instance, a study conducted in Australia shows that obese women lost weight and reduced their levels of triacylglycerol (a factor in heart disease) when they were put on a high-protein, low-fat, and low carb diet. And another study shows that the Atkins diet, one of the most popular low-carbohydrate diets, was successful in bringing down a dieter’s blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, more weight was lost by low-carb, high-protein dieters by the sixth month as compared to that achieved by those on a low-fat diet.

However, some other studies show that weight loss on a high-protein, low-carb regimen tapers off after about a year. Moreover, there are certain health risks associated with this sort of diet. For instance, too much protein can increase uric acid levels in the body, giving possible rise to diseases like gout and kidney stones. And because the dieter would tend to consume more red meat than normal, his or her intake of cholesterol and saturated fat would also increase, increasing his/her risk of acquiring heart disease, certain cancers, and hypertension.

Health experts suggest that a high protein diet is not necessarily a bad thing. It just has to be balanced with the intake of other nutrients like complex carbohydrates, fibrous fruits and vegetables, and regular exercise. Only then will you be able to lose weight safely and maintain the weight that’s just right for you.