What they tell you: the theory of low-carb diets
The general premise of high-protein/low carb diets is that by cutting carbs and increasing protein, you can lose weight fast. Their key selling point is that you can eat large quantities of meat, fish, eggs, cheese and dairy products if you cut out grains and carbohydrate-dense foods.


Promoters of the diets explain that you lose weight because your body switches from carbohydrate metabolism to fat metabolism; in other words, when you cut out carbohydrates as a source of energy, your body burns its stores of fat instead. This process of burning stored fat for energy is called ketosis. High-protein diets sell themselves by advertising ketosis inducement as a way to lose weight without cutting down on fat intake.


What they don't tell you: the reality of low-carb diets
Low carb diets are not the new and revolutionary diet solution they’re often made out to be. The first low-carb dieter was a London undertaker by the name of William Banting who lost 36 pounds in 28 weeks by consuming less bread, pastry, and beer - and that was in 1863.


Low-carb diets are also not as safe and successful as people think. Although cutting carbs and OD-ing on protein may initially help to induce fast weight loss, excessive protein has been proven to have very serious consequences for health and well being. For example:


Low energy. A more accurate description of ketosis is that the body is forced to burn fat because it is deprived of its essential natural carbohydrate energy. This energy from fat is “last resort” energy and does not provide the body and mind with the fuel they need, which is why people on high-protein diets feel easily tired and can suffer exhaustion.


Ketone damage. Ketosis also produces ketone bodies. When too much protein is consumed these ketones build up in the body, causing damage to the liver and kidneys. For some people, ketone levels can become so dangerously high that they result in death if not treated immediately.

Increased uric acid levels and water loss. When protein is broken down and metabolized, it also raises the levels of uric acid in the blood. The more protein you consume, the more of this toxic by-product the body has to deal with. The body pumps a lot of water through the kidneys and urinary tract to try and flush it out. This water loss not only gives a false indication of weight loss, it is also detrimental to the body in many other ways.

Acidosis. Excess protein also causes a condition called acidosis, which can lead to osteoporosis and kidney damage. High-protein foods are acidic, whereas vegetable foods are alkaline, so an overload of protein sets up a serious acid/alkaline imbalance. The body tries to resolve this imbalance by buffering with calcium. As calcium reserves are used for this instead of for building bones, the risk of bone deficiency and osteoporosis increases. During this process the body’s ability to reabsorb calcium is also reduced, causing calcium to be deposited in the kidneys, which can then lead to kidney stones.

As well as serious health problems, a high-protein diet is also accompanied by several unwanted bonuses that are not part of the advertised weight loss package. Bad body odor and breath are just a couple of the problems reported by followers of high-protein diets: if you eat like a carnivore you will smell like one! (The ketone bodies produced by ketosis give off a foul odor). Other common discomforts of a carnivorous diet include constipation, dehydration, dizziness, headaches, mental fatigue, sleep problems and nausea: those are a few bitter pills to swallow with your protein.

With low carb/high-protein diets it seems best not to bite off more than you can chew; they're not healthy, helpful, or safe. To lose weight effectively, you're better to count calories, watch portion size, stay health-conscious, and exercise sensibly and regularly.

More Info...
References :
This article was compiled in consultation with CalorieKing.com experts and in reference to the following sources.

AHA Recommendations. ‘High Protein Diets,’ ‘Quick-Weight-Loss or Fad Diets,’ www.americanheart.org

Atkins, C. Dr Atkins’ New Diet

Thanks. I needed a laugh today.

Good thing most of us aren't on high protein diets.
Pssst....low carb is a high fat diet.

Michelle, your profile shows that you have not read any books on low carbing at all. Before you continue cut and pasting criticisms that the [also misinformed] media puts out, you may want to read at least one book to see for youself what low carbing is really all about. That way, if you still want to criticize the plans at least you'll have an accurate idea of what it is that you're criticising.

Thank you, Michelle. I'm sure your painstaking regurgitation of other people's opinions convinced thousands to stop LCing in their tracks. Or not.

what did she say??

Thanks for posting this "life changing" information on this low carb website. We're all going to quit right now what we've been doing for years, with so much success, and with our Dr's blessing, and the lab results to back them up! Keep believing in yourself, and other people's opinions....maybe one day they will prove that the "Earth is Flat" and you can say......"See, I told you so!!!"

Odds are that Michelle never writes again. That's the usual LC cut & paste troll methodology. Well, I take that back. She has cut and pasted misinformation, she hasn't actually written anything yet.

I wish people who came on here and spouted this stuff would stick around to debate it. I really feel that there are many ways to eat healthy foods and lose weight, and it'd be great to hear different, educated perspectives. Sigh....

yep, that definitely convinced me to go back to rice cakes..all the way baby!

That awful cardboard tasting "diet" food of the last decade! That stuff was absolutely gross!

This is the same person who targets the M&E thread and periodically writes crap in there... I recommend that you click the little icon off to the right of her post and bug the webmaster about her.

There's a difference between free speech and harassment...

Hi Miriam,

There is no need to report posts from the Low Carb War Zone, unless they specifically violate the forum rules. Have a look at the sticky at the top of the War Zone, and you will see what is and is not acceptable.

If you see posts in the main part of the forum that are anti-low carb, by all means report them. Also, if you see posts here that are not considered acceptable according to the guidelines mentioned above, please report them too.

Otherwise, if you cannot handle posts criticizing low carbing, you might be best to stay away from the War Zone.

Rosebud

Last time I checked, cows don't smell all that great.

Michelle.....whatever.

If you are sticking you neck out here posting stupid posts like that one in the hopes someone will agree with you, well then you are incredably silly. This is a low carb site with thousands of successful low carbers on it. Please go play somewhere else.
If you meant to post it as a, 'hey, look at this pile of cr*p article I just found' then it might have been better off saying that. But I get the impression you are trying to be heard - amongst a whole stadium of believers! It isn't working. Go elsewhere!