Are Protein Diets Safe?

Protein diets have been on the rise with the latest and most popular, the 'Paleo Diet' which is a no-carbohydrate diet focusing on animal-derived foods.   A similar diet is the Atkins which focus is eating large amounts of proteins from meats and dairy with few carbohydrates.  But are these protein diets safe?  After all, protein in meat form, has the highest amounts of cholesterol, saturated fat and is extremely acidic.  On top of this are the high amounts of synthetic chemicals, growth bovine hormone, antibiotics and who knows what. 

Just because people lose weight on these protein diets does not mean they are safe.  One can go on chemotherapy and lose weight, but that doesn't mean it is healthy.  The Paleo and Atkins diet works by starving the body of carbohydrates in order to induce a state of illness (ketosis), which can result in weight loss. People eventually become too sick to eat too much.

Dr. John McDougall a medical Dr. says, “Americans consume 6 to 10 times as much protein as they need. All that excess protein overworks the liver and kidneys causing both to become enlarged and injured. Excess protein consumption also causes the kidneys to pull large quantities of calcium from the body, causing bones to weaken and kidney stones to form."  So eating too much protein is hard on the liver, kidneys, and actually causes a calcium loss, which can lead to osteoporosis.

Many of the amino acids from animal proteins contain sulfa, which is toxic to the liver and kidneys. In fact, Dr. McDougall says the best way to heal the kidneys and liver is to eat a low-protein diet, especially low in animal proteins, and according to scientific research, we only need about 20-30 grams of protein. 

Meats are extremely acidic to the body, resulting in an acidic pH levels.  Even a slight pH imbalance can make you feel tired, cause you to gain weight, give you trouble digesting food, and create aches and pains in your body. If your pH fluids are acidic, your body will do everything to maintain the proper pH, even stealing the calcium and minerals from your bones, resulting in weak bones.    

Remember, the only healthy weight loss solution is one you can live for the rest of your life and be healthy.  You might lose weigh on a protein diet, but what about high cholesterol levels, heart disease and other forms of atherosclerosis? 

Protein diets are based on artery-clogging saturated fats and cholesterol, and bone-damaging, acidic proteins from animal foods. Researchers have found that the modern-day hunter-gather populations such as the Inuits (Eskimos) who base their diets on meat and fish, suffer from osteoporosis, heart disease and other forms of atherosclerosis.  Modern-day hunter-gathers who base their diets on plant foods (starches) are free of these diseases.

Eating starches, fruits, vegetables and plants is the only healthy long term solution for losing weight!  Eat up!

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