Protein diet: the pros and cons with two specialists
What is the protein diet?
A protein diet is a dieting in which the main source of energy is protein, and therefore low in fats and sugars. Unlike low-calorie diets (which aim to reduce the number of calories), the protein diet is less concerned with calories than with the type of food: what matters is not the quantity (since in some pure proteins are at will ), but not to eat such or such food, type starchy.
There are several types of diet to be distinguished
- the high protein diet: a slimming diet low calorie or missing calories are offset by more protein
- the protein diet, which consists of eating mainly protein
The diet must follow phases, in order to gradually resume a normal and diversified diet without regaining weight often following this pattern: short diet with pure proteins, pure protein / specific foods for a while, then reintegration of forbidden foods and finally back to normal in a fairly long cycle.
It is mandatory to be followed by a doctor to start this regime.
What do we eat ?
In both cases, these diets can be followed via natural foods (meat, eggs etc ...) or with substitutes. Again, be careful not to confuse everything. There are meal replacements designed to substitute for a meal. They contain sugars and fat in small quantities but contain anyway to match the legislation that concerns them.
But there are also products that can be prescribed by a dietitian as part of a protein diet: these are sachets of powder to reconstitute with water found in pharmacies. Finally, there are high-protein snacks that will be useful for everyone because they are low in fats and sugars, and rely on the satiety properties of proteins to cut hunger.
In any case, a protein-based diet must be supplemented with vegetables for vitamins and fiber and also generally uses lean dairy products, an important source of protein often ignored, very low in calories.
Advantages
- The weight loss is very fast and quickly visible: we deflate immediately, we lose in centimeters and the kilos follow in number.
- It is not complicated: food rules are accessible to all (do not rely on the counting of points, calories or grams)
- It saves muscle mass that does not melt like in some low calorie diets
- the feeling of hunger is reduced because the proteins combined with the fibers bring a great satiety
- A protein diet is less tiring than a low-calorie diet, the body suffers less blow pumps
- For those who do not like artificial products, natural products that can be used are varied (seafood, poultry, meat, soya, dairy ..).
The word of the specialist "for", Dr. Pierre Dukan, nutritionist creator of the Dukan method *: "The real danger to health is overweight"
* //www.regimedukan.com
The inconvenients
- It is a strict diet that tolerates only a few differences: it takes a lot of motivation not to crack
- If it is poorly supervised or the phases are not respected, it can cause deficiencies of vitamins, minerals etc ...
- The management and digestion of pure protein by the body causes fatigue of the kidneys and heart that are overused because of a high toxin level in the body
- The bodily consequences are not very glamorous: bad breath is almost unavoidable and constipation goes hand in hand with phases where there are few vegetables and foods in bags.
- Lassitude and lack of pleasure. It can feel as if you are going around in circles with natural foods or with sachets which can trigger impulses
- If the stabilization phase is not scrupulously respected, the risk of taking back lost pounds, or even more, is increased when the effort is fully relaxed ...
- It complicates social life and family life, excluding you from normal meals and alcohol consumption.
The word of the specialist "against", Marie Josée LeBlanc, nutritionist of the University of Montreal and responsible for the site Extenso (www.extenso.org): "There is virtually no carbohydrates, especially during the early stages. These diets are low in carbohydrates and high in protein, as is the case with Dukan diet, may cause nutritional deficiencies given the lack of variety of foods allowed. This type of diet poses a risk of deficiency that can lead to anemia, lack of calcium and osteoporosis **. It works the first month, but can we last a long time? Studies show that in the long run, there is a risk of regaining the lost weight, or even gaining more. ".
** These risks were confirmed in France by the National Agency for Food Safety, Environment and Labor (ANSES): the average nutritional requirement for vitamin C in adults was not covered by the first three phases of the scheme and that during phase 1 and 2, the fiber intake would be ten times lower than the recommended level.
In conclusion: for the health agency, nothing can replace in terms of health, a balanced diet and diversified.
