what is a protein diet?

Answer 1

Protein diet is often recommended by bodybuilders and nutritionists to help efforts to build muscle and lose fat. It should not be confused with low-carb diets such as the Atkins Diet, which are not calorie-controlled and which often contain large amounts of fat.
While adequate protein is required for building skeletal muscle and various other tissues, there is ongoing debate regarding the use and necessity of high protein diets in weight training and bodybuilding. Various sources advise people to consume anywhere from 0.6 to 1.5g of protein per pound of bodyweight per day (1.43.3g per kg.) However, many medical professionals believe that consuming more protein than the Recommended Dietary Allowance provides no benefits, and that the excess is merely burnt for energy or excreted.
While there was initial suspicion that high protein diets increased the risk for renal failure, studies have shown that kidney problems occur only in people with pre-existing kidney disease. Similarly, the long-held concern that it could worsen hepatic encephalopathy (brain disease due to malfunction of the liver) appears to be ungrounded

Answer 2

Diet consisting of high protein foods and very little else. Meat, eggs, milk, cheese and a little salad. I have been told to only do this for one week.. then off the diet with a few starchy foods.. then back on the strict proteins. I have done this several times and it takes some planning on the shopping end but its worth it because you are not hungry all the time. Ask your doctor for the 'protein heart diet' it should have all the details on it.. or maybe you can find the Mayo clinic protein heart diet on the web.. Enjoy

Answer 3

Protein diet is ofcourse the diet which includes proteins in it.
Cereals, pulses, egg, milk, fish and cheese are good protein sources.

Answer 4

A diet that is high in protein rich foods such as eggs, cheeses and meats. Usually you don't eat many carbs which would be potatoes, pasta, rice, sugar,& flour.

Answer 5

The high protein diet has become one of the most popular diets around these days. The idea behind it is simple, no matter what your goals are, everyone can benifit from eating a high protein diet and eating high protein foods. Whether your goal is to increase muscle, gain weight and get big, lose weight and lose fat, get and/or stay lean, this type of diet is right for you. There are many reasons why it is one of the only types of diets around that can be effective for so many different people with so many different goals and bodies. However, depending on exactly what your goal is (weight loss, weight gain, gaining muscle, etc.) little changes will have to be made to it. First, lets look at why this type of diet is so effective.

Your body needs protein, and lots of it. It is the building block of muscle, which is why eating a high protein diet with high protein foods is EXTREMELY important for anyone looking to increase muscle, gain weight/get big, or anyone just looking to build muscle. Without enough protein in the body, muscle mass will not increase. During your weightlifting and strength training workout, your muscles are getting broken down. In order to rebuild and repair your muscles, your body needs protein. It is as simple as that.

So now your wondering how a high protein diet can be effective for someone trying to lose weight and lose fat, right? Well, it is just as simple. Most high protein foods are extremely low in carbs and extremely low in saturated fat (which is the fat that you DON'T want to eat). Therefore, by eating a high protein diet loaded with high protein foods, at the same time you'd end up eating low carb foods and low saturated fat foods. And, if you didn't already know, in order to lose weight and lose fat, eating low carbs and eating little or no saturated fat is a MUST.

Some high protein foods are:

chicken
turkey
lean meats and beef
fish (just about every fish is high in protein, anything from tuna fish, to salmon, to shrimp)
egg whites

There are many other high protein foods, but these are the basics.

The next question you probably have is how much protein should there be in a high protein diet. Anywhere from .5 grams to 2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight will be good, but try to stick closer to 1 gram per pound. So, if you weigh 175lbs, eat 175 grams of protein everyday, whether you worked out that day or not. I eat a little over 1 gram of protein per pound, and most people who are looking to gain weight, get big and increase muscle should also try to eat at least 1 gram per pound a day, or a little more then that. Someone looking to lose weight can and should eat at least 1 gram per pound as well.

Now you must be thinking about eating a high protein diet and eating 1 gram per pound, so you must be saying "yeah right, 1 gram per pound, how the hell am I supposed to eat that much protein??" Well, a lot of people have this problem. Not many people have time to make high protein foods like chicken breasts all day long or bring tuna fish around with them all day. This is where protein supplements come in. Protein shakes (which are just the powder mixed with any liquid you want) and bars are the perfect solution. Drinking your average shake with 2 scoops of protein powder will give you 30+ grams of protein, and it only takes a minute to make and drink. The average bars also have about 30 grams each, and are the size of your average candy bar, so they are very easy to carry around with you. For more information on these protein supplements like bars, powder, and shakes, click here.

Last but not least, when are the most important times to eat high protein foods. There are 3 "most important" times. These times are first thing in the morning after you wake up, last thing at night before you go to bed, and directly after your workout. However, remember that the main point of eating a high protein diet is to give your body the protein it needs all day long, which is why it would be a good idea to eat a meal once every 3 hours or so this way your body will always have what it needs.

Answer 6

Dangerous!

Answer 7

potato

Answer 8

Protein is a vital nutrient, essential to your health. In its purest form, protein consists of chains of amino acids. There are 22 amino acids that combine to form different proteins, and 8 of these must come from the foods we eat. Our body uses these amino acids to create muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails and internal organs. Proteins help replace and form new tissue, transports oxygen and nutrients in our blood and cells, regulates the balance of water and acids, and is needed to make antibodies. However, too much of a good thing may not be so good for you. Many people are putting their health at risk by eating to much protein. Excessive protein consumption, particularly animal protein, can result in heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and kidney stones. As important as protein is for our body, there are many misconceptions about how much we really need in our diet, and the best way to obtain it.

The average American eats about twice as much protein than what is actually required. Some people, in the pursuit of thinness, are going on high-protein diets and are eating up to four times the amount of protein that their body needs. Protein deficiency is certainly not a problem in America. So exactly how much protein does your body really need? Much less than you think. According to the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health, as little as 50-60 grams of protein is enough for most adults. This breaks down to about 10-12% of total calories. Your body only needs 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. To calculate the exact amount you need, multiply your ideal weight by 0.36. This will give you your optimum daily protein requirement in grams. Since the amount of protein needed depends on the amount of lean body mass and not fat, ideal weight is used instead of actual weight. Infants, children, pregnant and nursing women require more protein.

People on high-protein diets are consuming up to 34% of their total calories in the form of protein and up to 53% of total calories from fat. Most of these people are unaware of the amount of protein and fat that is contained in the foods they eat. For instance, a typical 3-ounce beef hamburger, which is small by American standards, contains about 22 grams of protein and 20 grams of fat. You achieve quick weight loss on these diets because of this high fat content. High fat foods give you the sensation of feeling full, faster, so you end up eating fewer total calories. However, this type of protein and fat combination is not the healthiest. Animal proteins are loaded with cholesterol and saturated fat. Many people on these diets also experience an elevation in their LDL (the bad) cholesterol when they remain on this diet for long periods. High levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood clog arteries and is the chief culprit in heart disease, particularly heart attack and stroke. So while you may lose weight in the short-run, you are putting your cardiovascular health in jeopardy in the long-run.

Another reason weight loss is achieved on these high-protein diets, at least temporarily, is actually due to water loss. The increase in the amount of protein consumed, especially from meat and dairy products, raises the levels of uric acid and urea in the blood. These are toxic by-products of protein breakdown and metabolism. The body eliminates this uric acid and urea by pumping lots of water into the kidneys and urinary tract to help it flush out. However, a detrimental side effect of this diuretic response is the loss of essential minerals from the body, including calcium. The high intake of protein leaches calcium from the bones, which leads to osteoporosis.

Medical evidence shows that the body loses an average of 1.75 milligrams of calcium in the urine for every 1 gram increase in animal protein ingested. Additionally, as calcium and other minerals are leached from our bones, they are deposited in the kidneys and can form into painful kidney stones. If a kidney stone becomes large enough to cause a blockage, it stops the flow of urine from the kidney and must be removed by surgery or other methods.

Plant-based proteins, like that found in soy, lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL (the good) cholesterol. This prevents the build up of arterial plaque which leads to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and heart disease, thus reducing the risk heart attack and stroke. The amount and type of protein in your diet also has an important impact on calcium absorption and excretion. Vegetable-protein diets enhance calcium retention in the body and results in less excretion of calcium in the urine. This reduces the risk of osteoporosis and kidney problems. Interestingly, kidney disease is far less common in people who eat a vegetable-based diet than it is in people who eat an animal-based diet. By replacing animal protein with vegetable protein and replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat, like that found in olive and canola oils, you can avoid the pitfalls of the typical high-protein diet. You will be able to improve your health and regulate your weight while enjoying a vast array of delicious, nutritionally dense, high fiber foods.