eat everything in moderation
and nothing in excess

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 too 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.

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
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. 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. 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 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 of 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 fibre foods.
Remember, eat everything in moderation and nothing in excess. Also, the only healthy way to achieve permanent weight loss is to burn more calories than you take in. Anything else is just a gimmick.
If you’ve been wanting to lose weight without compromising your own health, then the Low-Carbohydrate and High-Protein Diet could be an option to consider. But before you dig deeper on how this diet approach helps in losing weight, it would be better to first cover the basics on what these nutrients can do for your body.

Carbs and Protein
Carbohydrates no longer sound like a stranger to anyone who’s been trying to lose weight instantly. This is one essential nutrient that’s commonly misconceived as unhealthy. Many say that carbs in a diet predominately result in an increase in fats. But, don’t take this as a gospel truth for not all carbohydrates are bad. They’re not the only reason why your body may feel bloated and large, and knowing what different types of carbs do for your body is crucial to your health and weight loss.
Protein, on the other hand, is good for the heart. The absence of its supply can lead to various illnesses and may even result in death. Some of these illnesses are weakening of the respiratory and immune systems, malfunctioning of the heart, as well as growth failure. Protein is acquired mostly from poultry products such as milk, beans, meat, whole grains, oats and peanuts.
So, why is the Low-Carbohydrate and High Protein Diet being implemented? What are the benefits?
If your main objective is to reduce your body weight, then it’s better to try the Low-Carbohydrate and High-Protein Diet than the Low-Fat and High-Carbohydrate approach. Low carbohydrates mean that your blood sugar level doesn’t increase quickly. Since there’s a minimal supply of sugar compared to the average amount you get, you have a lower risk of developing diabetes. You may ask about the energy supply you need and say “I thought carbohydrates are important because we need energy?” But don’t worry, because protein can cover this.
Any food that’s high in protein tends to make the digestion slower. In which case, you don’t easily get hungry and feel empty. Once you start feeling empty, your energy tends to decrease as well. However, the low-carbohydrate diet doesn’t mean that your body won’t get the energy it needs. Of course, carbohydrates are just one energy source; other nutrients can help supply energy as well.
The Low-Carb and High-Protein Diet doesn’t only contribute to quicker weight loss and lower blood sugar level, it also helps reduce blood-triglyceride levels, which is good for the heart.
Although this type of diet is advised, it doesn’t mean that the food you’re going to eat are only those that are high in proteins and miss out on other essential minerals and vitamins found in other varieties. Excess or lack of protein and carbohydrates is not good for the body, so watch out for the amount of these nutrients you take daily. Knowing the essential nutrients your body needs and the process on how to properly get these nourishments can prevent you from getting sick.