The Atkins Diet is an example of the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that first became popular in 1970s. Celebrities and everyday people alike continue to use the diet in an attempt to shed extra weight. If you're thinking about trying one of these diets for yourself, you should be aware of some of the dangers or risks.
Warning
Following a diet that's high in protein and low in carbohydrates may help you lose weight, but it's not necessarily effective in the long run. Experts state that the diet isn't easy to maintain over the long-term. You typically feel tempted when you deprive yourself of carbohydrates in the form of rice or bread and later gorge yourself on those same foods. At the same time, the diets force you to lose water weight, but the water weight returns when you start eating carbohydrates again.
Heart Disease
High-protein and low-carbohydrate diets involve ingesting more saturated fat than you would with other types of diets. The American Diabetic Association claims that those following this type of diet eat up to 15 percent more fat every day than those eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables. The increase in saturated fats can lead to high blood cholesterol levels, which in turn increase the risk of developing heart disease. This increase can occur even as you're losing weight.
Fiber
The American Diabetes Association recommends that a healthy diet include 20g to 25g of fiber. A high-protein diet typically includes a much smaller amount of fiber, as little as 5g. The diets prohibit or limit the amount of fiber ingested because they restrict the amount of grains, fruits and vegetables you can eat. When you don't have enough fiber, you can feel sick to your stomach, have problems using the bathroom and increase your risks of developing heart disease.
Kidney Disease
A high-protein diet may also increase your chances of developing kidney disease, especially if you're a diabetic. The high levels of protein in the diets cause a buildup of protein in the kidney, which the kidney can't process. If you have diabetes, you can increase your chances of developing kidney disease simply by following this type of diet. Additionally, if you have kidney disease already, the buildup of protein can make the disease worse.
Diabetics
If you have diabetes, a high-protein diet can affect you in different ways, including making it harder to control the condition. As the protein builds up, it makes it even harder for the body to create insulin and digest sugars. It also causes something known as ketosis, which occurs when ketones build up in the system. The ketones work at replacing the carbohydrates your body requires. This buildup causes a problem known as diabetic ketoacidosis.
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