A high protein low carb diet is a diet that promotes little or almost no carbohydrates and those that are rich sources of protein. More and more people are adopting this diet in hopes of losing weight. Consult your health provider before beginning a high protein low carb diet.
How it Works
Since a high protein low carb diet promotes the consumption of fewer carbohydrates, your body burns fat instead of glucose. This process is called ketosis. During this process, your body gets energized from ketones, the fuel produced by your own fat. Using ketones as body fuel minimizes the tendency of feeling hunger.
Because of the low intake of carbohydrates, a high protein low carb diet causes your body to release water. This contributes to the fast rate of shedding off pounds.
Caution
Despite the several benefits of a high protein low carb diet, several medical experts say that it can pose harmful effects to the body, one of which is produced by ketosis itself. People who have tried the high protein low carb diet in the past have said that it usually causes them to feel dizzy, lightheaded and queasy. In addition to this, medical experts say that ketosis results in the rapid loss of important components of the body like water, potassium and sodium.
Another drawback of a high protein low carb diet is that it forces your kidneys to work more than they normally do. This overwork is caused by the excess proteins they have to process. As a result, you are more susceptible to kidney disease.
Most high protein food comes from animal fat that tend to raise the level of your cholesterol and increase the risk of different kinds of cancer. For this reason, you must incorporate beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables into your high protein low carb diet. These foods are rich in vitamins, fiber, antioxidants and other important components that help you combat diseases. Some of them are even good sources of protein.