Posted by Artificer at host213-122-78-67.in-addr.btopenworld.com on April 11, 2002 at 14:21:01:
In Reply to: Let's phrase it this way... posted by razordu30 on April 11, 2002 at 13:59:02:
Phone Monkey posted an excellent link the other day which included
particular reference to this:
Myth:
High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are a healthy way to lose weight.
Fact:
A high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet provides most of your calories
each day from protein foods (like meat, eggs, and cheese) and few
calories from carbohydrate foods (like breads, pasta, potatoes, fruits,
and vegetables). People often get bored with these diets because
they crave the plant-based foods they are not allowed to have or can
have only in very small amounts. These diets often lack key nutrients
found in carbohydrate foods.
Many of these diets allow a lot of food high in fat, like bacon and
cheese. High-fat diets can raise blood cholesterol levels, which
increases a person's risk for heart disease and certain cancers.
High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets may cause rapid weight loss--
but most of it is water weight and lean muscle mass--not fat. You
lose water because your kidneys try to get rid of the excess waste
products of protein and fat, called ketones, that your body makes.
This is not a healthy way to lose weight! It overworks your kidneys, and can cause dehydrat
ion, headaches, and bad breath. It
can also make you feel nauseous, tired, weak, and dizzy. A buildup of keton
es in your blood (called ketosis) can cause your body to produce high lev
els of uric acid, which is a risk factor for
gout (a painful swelling of the joints) and kidney stones. Ketosis can
be very risky for pregnant
women and people with diabetes.
By following a reduced-calorie diet
that is well-balanced between carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, you
will still lose weight--without hurting your body. You will also be more
likely to keep the weight off.