One of the most popular diets that is used to lose weight is the high protein diet. People sometimes use this diet over the course of a few weeks to lose a few pounds, while others like how they feel so much that they stay with it on a continuing basis. There are some distinct advantages that come with this type of diet, but there are some disadvantages that must be considered as well to determine if making this life change is a good choice to make.
The Pros of a High Protein Diet
1. The initial weight loss is immediate.
People can lose 10+ pounds on a high protein diet almost immediately. This initial loss creates a sense of satisfaction that may encourage people to stay with the diet longer to see how much extra weight they can lose. It is a definite booster of individual willpower that many other diets just don’t provide in their initial days.
2. It contributes to a drop in cholesterol totals.
It’s not the just the weight that gets dropped in the initial days of the high protein diet. Many people find that their cholesterol levels start to lower immediately as well. This helps to lower blood pressure, encourage fat consumption, and get started toward a path that leads to a targeted weight number.
3. There is no starvation involved.
Many diets eventually fail because hunger is a difficult feeling to manage. When hunger lasts long enough, the urge to eat becomes overwhelming and will often cause the dieter to binge, gaining several pounds in the process. The high protein diet provides a feeling of fullness with every meal.
4. People feel fuller for longer periods of time.
It takes the human body a lot longer to digest proteins than it does other types of food fuel. This means the food stays within the digestive tract for a longer period of time, creating a long-lasting feeling of fullness that reduces boredom cravings or the desire to eat some unhealthy snacks.
The Cons of a High Protein Diet
1. The initial weight loss is only temporary.
Although the initial weight loss seen is satisfying, most people will experience a weight gain after their first weight loss. This is because much of what gets lost at first is water weight that the body works to replenish. Sometimes enough water weight comes back that it wipes out the initial gains seen in the first days of the high protein diet.
2. There are some bothersome side effects.
When the human body goes into ketosis and begins to consume its own resources for fuel, there are some physical side effects that are almost always felt. The most common are a headache, a feeling of warmth, and fatigue. Many people who are burning fat or muscle tissue also tend to be more irritable than normal and may struggle to sleep for a few days as their body attempts to adjust to their new eating habits.
3. Many people don’t consider their fat intake.
High protein diets often involve abnormally high levels of saturated fats. This means that even though weight loss occurs and cholesterol numbers decline, the bad cholesterol numbers are very likely to increase. This pattern can be countered by including healthier protein options, such as beans and seafood, but those food options may also be more expensive as well.
4. Not everyone can follow this type of diet.
If someone has a history of kidney or liver problems, the increased amount of protein can be problematic to their health. Problems with these organs will usually translated into weakened overall body functions. Adding additional proteins to the mix can add a lot of stress to the body that can result in further health problems.
5. People can become very smelly while on this diet.
The additional levels of proteins in the diet alter the body’s chemistry and create more gas within the digestive system. This means that many people struggle with flatulence while on the diet, especially in the first few days of it. Over time, the body also begins to push out toxins as it begins to heal, which creates a further stench.
What Do You Like About a High Protein Diet?
The initial weight loss that occurs can be very encouraging. As long as the disadvantages are carefully considered and monitored, this could be an effective way to lose weight when other diets have been tried and found to be ineffective. Make sure to speak with your doctor about this type of diet before beginning it to make sure there aren’t any specific health consequences which may occur because