High Protein Diets: Dieter Beware

While high protein diets are known to get the weight off fast, there are many reasons why high protein weight loss diets do more harm than good. Let's take a look at the popular high protein diets -- the Atkins, Scarsdale, Stillman, and other diets like them that emphasize high protein, with little or virtually no carbohydrate. The protein consumption in these diets is three times the normal recommended amount of protein an adult should eat per day.

A high protein diet will stimulate dramatic weight loss, and this suggests why these diets are so popular. A dieter who suddenly is able to drop pounds a week will no doubt be elated, but they don't yet know that this weight loss is temporary.

Here's how it goes on the typical high protein weight loss diet: Proteins are acid forming in the body and when we eat too much of them, our body will go into an over-acid state, or hyperacidity. The excessive amounts of protein consumed on the high protein diets creates a prolonged state of hyperacidity. This condition is called ketosis, and in the hyperacidic environment in your body, toxic substances called ketones are produced. As ketones collect in your tissues and cells, the body reacts with an effort to purge the ketones.

In the early stages of a high protein diet, the weight loss that is experienced results from the loss of large amounts of water from the your cells and tissues as your body tries to unload the toxic ketones. Weight is lost quickly with the elimination of the water and the toxins carried along with it.

After a week or two, the high protein diet dieter will usually hit a plateau. The rapid weight loss slows to a trickle, and unpleasant symptoms may set in. When a high protein diet is discontinued, the dieter gains weight, often as rapidly as it was lost. Dr. Atkins admitted once about his diet: "I concede that the worst feature about this diet is the rapidity with which you gain weight if you abandon it."

That is not the worst feature of the Atkins Diet or other high protein diet. Vying for "worst" status are the possible side effects of a high protein diet, which include:

Kidney damage from ketosis
Elevated Cholesterol levels
Liver damage
Constipation
Mineral and vitamin depletion
Gout
Cancer

Avoid high protein diets at all costs. The benefits do not outweigh the dangers. There are many safe alternatives to losing weight. Short term, here are some tips for healthy rapid weight loss. As for the long term, before you start a weight loss diet, study up on healthy weight loss diets and make an informed decision, as you would when you buy a car. Your life may depend on it.