High Protein Diet

From LoveToKnow Diet

The Protein Power Diet that encourages a low carb, high protein diet promises dramatic and permanent weight loss. At the same time, the high protein diet clains it can reset the metabolism, lower "bad" cholesterol levels, and reduce the risks of hypertension and heart disease -- all while allowing you to eat steak, eggs, cheese, and other "forbidden" foods.

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History

Doctors Michael and Mary Dan Eades have always had an interest in weight loss, and their medical practise reflects that focus. When they found a copy of Banting's Letter on Corpulence, the first diet book ever published in the English language, they were astonished to find that this man had lost weight and thrived on a diet that extremely opposed any of the diets widely accepted in scientific circles. And, this was a man whose obesity was so advanced that his hearing and sight were affected, and he had to go down stairs backwards to ease the strain on his knees, But, the doctors' continuing research into anthropology, paleaopathology, and eating disorders led them to believe that Banting's high protein diet plan was actually well-suited for most people's dietary needs. As a result, they began experimenting and refining the program to develop the Protein Power Diet.

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How the High Protein Diet Works

Like most low-carb plans, the high-protein approach focuses on the body's production and utilization of insulin. When you eat something that contains carbohydrate, the body breaks that carbohydrate down and produces, among other things, glucose. When your body detects glucose in the bloodstream, it signals the pancreas to produce insulin to regulate the blood glucose levels. Over time, the body can become desensitized to the action of insulin, so that greater and greater amounts of insulin must be secreted before the blood sugar is properly regulated. This increased level of insulin production can lead to hyperinsulinemia, which, in turn, causes the body to think it needs more sugar. It's a vicious cycle, as the body struggles to regulate itself, and the consumption of carbohydrate foods -- especially simple carbohydrates -- exacerbates the problem.

The high-protein diet restricts carbohydrates to minimize insulin production. Thus, the program is designed for people who have blood-sugar issues, such as diabetics, hypoglycemics, and insulin-resistant patients. If your weight problem is caused solely by overeating, or by a sedentary lifestyle, it's not likely that Protein Power will work for you.

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Doing the Math

Like the Zone Diet, Protein Power requires a hefty amount of pre-diet calculations. You must figure out your body fat percentage and your ideal body weight (a range). Then you must calculate your daily protein needs and divide that among your three meals. Once you know where you are going, you can begin following the plan, which has three basic levels or phases.

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Effective Carb Count

Unlike some of the other low-carb plans, the Protein Power plan allows you to adjust your carbohydrate intake based on the number of grams of fibre in a serving of food. For example, if you are going to eat a slice of whole grain bread that contains 23g of carbohydrate, but 10g of that carbohydrate is noted as being dietary fibre, you count that slice of bread as 13g of carbohydrate. This is called the "effective carb count," or ECC. The advantage of using an effective carb count rather than an actual carb count is that you can eat more of the fibre-rich carbohydrate sources earlier in the diet, so you are less likely to run into the constipation problems commonly experienced by low-carb dieters.

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Phase One

At this level, which is intended for those who need to reduce their body weight by 20 percent or more, you are limited to no more than 30 grams of carbohydrate a day. The Eadeses emphasize that you should choose high-quality carbohydrate sources, like leafy green vegetables, broccoli, tomatoes, and the like. They also emphasize including a minimum of 25g of fibre in the daily diet. While fats are allowed, the Eadeses recommend you choose healthy fats like olive oil, rather than animal fats like lard or schmaltz. They do allow butter. There is a list of "carb-bargain" foods they recommend you choose from when planning your meals.

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Phase Two

In Phase Two, intended for those who have less than 20 percent of body weight to lose, or for those who have begun on phase one and have stabilized their health, you are limited to 55g of carbs daily. Again, the Eadeses say to choose your carbs with care: while five saltines has the same effective carb count as half an apple, the nutrition value is radically different. The quantity is different too: consider that 7 jelly beans is equal in ECC to 14 cups of fresh lettuce.

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Transitioning to Maintenance

When you have reached your weight-loss goals, you begin the transition to the maintenance phase of the diet. This is accomplished by increasing the daily carb allotment by 10g, and then staying at the new level for five to seven days to allow your body to stabilize. You keep increasing the carb allotment until it is equal to your protein allotment. For extremely active people, the carb allotment may exceed the protein allotment, but never by more than 30 percent. If at any point you begin to gain weight again, you drop back to the preceding allotment and stay there. Each person has a unique tolerance for carbohydrate, so one person on maintenance might be limited to 75g daily while another does not begin to regain weight until they are well over 150g daily.

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Other Considerations

The Eadeses are careful to point out that adequate hydration, plenty of exercise, and stress-reduction are just as important to weight-loss and healthful living as regulating diet. The balance of their book includes scientific information on reducing obesity-related diseases, explanations of the body's digestive and endocrine systems, a fascinating treatise on the ancient Egyptians and the effects of their diet, and recipes and menus for following the Protein Power Plan.

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