The high protein diet plan
The high protein diet plan is very much in vogue and as such, there is a dizzying array to choose from. An extreme version, known as the PronoKal diet, is a tailor made diet plan consisting largely of protein substitute drinks, topped up with a selection of vitamins and minerals. The pleasure of dining on solids is totally denied until you hit your target weight and can progress to the second phase. In fact, the majority of high protein diet plans (including the Atkins diet) generally involve eating a diet that is low in carbs and high in animal protein, saturated fat and cholesterol. This tricks your body into burning fat for fuel and restricting your appetite – a state known as ketosis.
Whilst this approach may help you to achieve your short-term weight loss goals, it can have serious health consequences further down the line.
Why the high protein diet plan is best avoided
According to leading nutritionist, professor Robert Eckel, from the University of Colorado, many high protein plan diets are lacking in vegetables and grain and thus fail to provide all of the essential nutrients our bodies need. And side effects of ketosis can include headaches, irritability, nausea, kidney trouble and heart palpitations. More worryingly, a diet rich in animal protein, saturated fat and cholesterol, raises cholesterol levels and increases our risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. Which is probably why the American Heart Association doesn’t endorse them.
Kate Moss may have once quipped that "nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels”, but even if you’re not deterred by the health risks of the high protein diet plan, then you should be put off by the costs. The PronoKal diet for example, can set you back more than £1000 – not exactly small change if you’re not earning a supermodel salary!
Why the high protein diet plan doesn’t work
The European Food Safety Authority confirms there is no evidence that high protein diet plans help with weight control and most nutritionists agree that severely limiting your carb intake will only cause you to crave them more. The mental stress this causes, makes your cortisol levels soar, which in turn stimulates your appetite and leads to binge eating. Which kind of defeats the purpose.
And ultimately, some 98% of all diets fail simply because we are unable to maintain the weight loss once we stop dieting.
What’s the alternative?
If you look the word ‘diet’ up in any dictionary you’ll find two very different meanings – one is positive and relates to food and nourishment, the other more negative, to regime, abstinence and fast. I prefer the former and firmly believe that if you enjoy a sensible, balanced ‘diet’, combined with regular exercise, then your ideal weight will surely follow. So, you really have no need for a high protein diet plan or indeed any other type of crash diet.
The superfood diet supports this view.
The superfood diet
The superfood diet merely seeks to enhance our existing healthy eating patterns with a range of powerful superfoods. Superfoods are rich in beneficial nutrients that offer an almost infinite number of health benefits, including increased energy levels, greater immunity and even weight loss. That’s because many superfoods, such as delicious raw cacao, are known for their natural ability to burn fat.
And as raw cacao can be used to prepare yummy, low calorie raw chocolate, you won’t need to ration your chocolate egg intake this Easter after all!
