How does a High Protein Low Carb Diet work?

High protein low carb diet have since long been pegged as an effectual approach to shedding weight by recommendation of thirty to fifty percent of entire calorific intake from protein. It contradicts diet recommendations put forth by the National Cholesterol Education Program, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society involving dietetic intake wherein lesser proportion of calories are obtained from proteins (a source of nourishment vital to manufacturing, maintaining and repairing tissues of the body).

The Atkins diet is an exemplar of high protein low carb diet.

High protein low carb diet – Manner of Working

Radical carbohydrate restriction to just a tiny proportion of which is present in the usual American dietetic intake would make the body start burning its stored fat for producing fuel and thus going into a harmful metabolic state known as ketosis. Usually the body would burn carbs for producing fuel (the chief source of fuel for several organs of the body inclusive of the cardiovascular system and brain). During ketosis, ketones are the small carbon pieces produced as a result of fat reserves broken down which are used to get energy. While in the state of ketosis, there is a tendency of feeling lesser hunger and hence there is lesser likelihood of eating as much as one would be doing in other instances. But, ketosis could additionally lead to health issues like kidney malfunction.

As a consequence the body would transform from carb burning machinery to a fat exhuming one. Hence, rather than depending on the high-carb foods one would usually be consuming for energy, the fat reserves would be used as a main source of energy with the supposed outcome being weight reduction.

High Protein Low Carb Diet and linked Health Problems

Kidney Malfunction

Consumption of excess protein would exert greater stress on the kidneys thus making an individual more prone to kidney malfunction.

Elevated Cholesterol levels

It is well-established fact that a high protein diet (comprising of whole milk produce, high-fat food items and red meats) are associated with elevated cholesterol. Researches have found links between elevated cholesterol levels and an augmented chance of suffering from stroke, cancers and cardiovascular disease.

Kidney stone problems and bone thinning

Intake of too much protein has been found to lead to abnormally large amounts of calcium being excreted during urination. With passage of time this would augment chances of developing kidney stone and osteoporosis.

Cancers

The main reason behind high protein diet increasing chances of developing some health conditions is due to restriction on intake of carb-containing food types and mineral, vitamin, antioxidant and fiber present in them. Hence it is vital that protein be derived from a dietetic intake high in fruit, veggie and whole grain forms which would not just help in meeting requisite protein requirement but additionally aid in reducing chances of getting cancer.

Detrimental ketosis

Less carbohydrate diets could elicit a risky metabolic state known as ketosis wherein the body would exhume fat as opposed to glucose for producing energy. Ketones are substances formed as a result that could be causal to organ failure and resulting in kidney malfunction, gout or kidney stone. Ketones could additionally reduce an individual’s craving for food; elicit feeling nauseous and appalling breath. Ketosis preventative measure is consumption of at least a hundred grams of carbs per day.

Moreover, this form of diet steers clear from high consumption of veggie and fruit forms which has always been widely advised by dieticians and nutritional experts.

For achieving lasting weight reduction lifestyle modifications like lesser calorie dietetic intake inclusive of grain, legume, fruit and veggie forms merged with regularly engaging in physical activity is advisable by experts.