High Protein Low Carb Diet

As suggested by the name, a high protein and low carb diet restricts the carbohydrate intake and contains a higher quantity of foods rich in protein. This diet is usually made use of to bring about weight loss. Along with an increased protein intake, the fat consumption is also increased to make up for the calories that would otherwise come with carbohydrates. The basic idea of this diet comes from the fact that if an individual reduces the quantity of carbohydrates taken in, the body is made to burn fat for energy. An increased intake of protein also helps in the building of muscles.

It is well known that protein is important not only in building muscles but also in replacing and restoring muscles and in the maintenance of a healthy hormonal and immune system. Some of the good sources of protein are soya, tofu, low fat cheese, curds, milk, and some nuts like almonds, walnuts, and cashew nuts. These foods tend to make you feel full, and so foods rich in protein will make you feel less hungry. This will be quite helpful for the individuals who experience difficulty in sticking to diets that keep them hungry. Along with the foods rich in protein, foods low in carbohydrates like broccoli, tomatoes, and leafy green vegetables should be taken.

In this diet plan, you should avoid taking foods rich in carbohydrates like rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread. Fruits that contain high sugar content should also be avoided. A high protein and low carb diet is said to be effective for most individuals, but the urge for carbohydrate-rich foods is present. Therefore, it will be a good idea not to completely eliminate carbohydrate foods. By following this diet, your body will change to a fat burning machine instead of a carbohydrate burning machine. This enables fat to be gotten rid of from the body and weight loss to be achieved. Some form of exercise must also be performed along with this diet.

High protein and low carb diets like the Atkins diet are an effective and popular way to bring about weight loss. Although these high protein and low carb diets have some side effects and risks like kidney failure, kidney stones, cancer, and an unhealthy metabolic state, a high protein diet can also keep the mind active. If you are just beginning a high protein and low carb diet, you may find that all your meals consist mostly of a lot of hamburger meat. However, with some creativity, you can make a healthy and balanced high protein and low carb diet menu plan.

An image that is quite typical of a high protein and low carb diet is a lot of meat. Bacon, pork chops, and steak are parts of a regular low carb diet. However, consuming all that meat will bring about an excess of saturated fat in your body. To bring down the fat content, you could add poultry items like turkey and chicken to your diet. For dishes of red meat, you could take lean cuts of beef. If you are able to get it, bison meat is a good option as it is considered to be high in protein and low in fat. If you love eating fish, you will have many choices of high protein and low carb meals that are healthy. Baked or boiled fish will give you a lot of protein as well as healthy fats. Vegetarian meals unfortunately do not usually have low carbohydrate content. Sources of vegetable protein like soy and beans contain a high quantity of carbs. For an easy and fast meal, you could sauté some starch free vegetables like turnips and broccoli in some oil. You could then add some low carb sauce that you like and some tofu, onions, and garlic. The vegetables should be sautéed till they become tender. A good low carb vegetable is cauliflower that can sometimes substitute potatoes. There are plenty of high protein and low carb diet recipes and a list of good foods that you can find on the Internet for both men and women. Some of the best high protein and low carb diet foods are roast beef, roast chicken, cod fillets, and milk.

When you are following this kind of diet it is essential that you maintain a moderate lifestyle because the reduction of carbohydrates in your body will quickly lead to low energy levels. Therefore, you will find yourself getting more stressed and tired easily. Although you may lose weight at a faster rate, the exhaustion that results may prevent you from enjoying your healthier and trimmer figure. It is also important before you begin this diet to first inform your doctor about it. Your doctor or nutritionist will then give you a sample food plan in which the foods that you can and cannot eat will be identified as well as the amount of each food group you can consume each day. Along with the high protein and low carb diets, it is essential that you perform regular exercises like swimming, running, brisk walking, or even some light bodybuilding. Your exercise program should consist of both aerobic as well as anaerobic exercises. Performing only aerobic exercises will not be very effective as the metabolic rate of the body will come back to normal levels quite quickly after you complete the exercise. Therefore, you should also include weight training to build muscles.

The disadvantages of this diet have also been highlighted by many experts and dieticians. Taking in an excess of protein is considered to be harmful to the kidneys, since it causes a strain on them, leaving you vulnerable to liver disease. There should be the right balance to your intake of protein, so it is essential that you seek the advice of a dietician before starting this diet. You should try and follow diets that although may not give super fast results, provide you with a well-balanced diet and contain a few carbohydrate foods. Therefore, to ensure permanent and healthy weight loss, you should perform regular exercise, consume a balanced meal, make appropriate changes to your lifestyle, stop smoking and eat enough grains, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Submitted on January 16, 2014