| Protein is often thought of as a virtually magical | | | | High protein diets may also lead to problems that |
| nutrient, one that can do no wrong. The myths | | | | include having an electrolyte imbalance, which can |
| surrounding protein can often reveal some of the | | | | in turn lead to problems with irregular heartbeats. |
| wrong thinking that can cause problems in the | | | | Irregular heartbeats in turn can lead to heart |
| average diet. While protein is vital to every cell in | | | | attacks if they are allowed to continue. |
| the body, it can be a major problem when it is | | | | Protein is Not Stored in the Body as Fat |
| consumed in huge amounts, especially in some | | | | The high protein diets may suggest that it is only |
| conditions. Just as it is important to get healthy | | | | fats or carbohydrates that are stored as fats in |
| sources of fats and carbohydrates in the proper | | | | the body, however, this is erroneous. Calories are |
| amounts, it is just as important to get the proper | | | | all treated the same way by the body - the body |
| amount of protein also. The amount that should | | | | uses what it needs as energy and then the |
| be eaten by each person can only be accurately | | | | excess is either stored in the glycogen stores to |
| determined by their doctor or nutritionist, who will | | | | be used for secondary energy or stored as fat. |
| look not only at current weight but health | | | | There are some very complex mechanisms at |
| condition and activity level as well. | | | | work to decide what goes where, and how much |
| Protein Myths that Never Go Away | | | | food is burned as energy and how much is stored |
| You should never eat any fat (which is not | | | | as fat can depend on the amount that is eaten |
| possible). All carbohydrates are bad for you. | | | | plus how high the blood sugar is raised because of |
| There are countless myths related to food that | | | | the meal. Here is another myth at work: the |
| just never seem to go away no matter how | | | | thought that only carbohydrates or fats raise |
| much information is provided. Just like those that | | | | blood sugar levels. All foods have some effect on |
| surround fats and carbs, protein myths can be | | | | blood sugar and the release of insulin. Foods that |
| outrageous and are often more wishful thinking | | | | cause the highest spikes in blood sugar will cause |
| than anything else. However, if you are eating too | | | | the highest release of insulin, which in turn will lead |
| much protein or trying to avoid it altogether | | | | to the highest level of fat storage. |
| because of an erroneous myth, it is important to | | | | While it is true that highly processed, easily |
| get the real facts. Some of the most popular | | | | digested, simple carbohydrates will lead to sugar |
| myths surrounding protein include: | | | | spikes, complex carbohydrates like whole grain |
| - Body builders get huge because they consume | | | | breads and pasta do not cause this surge and are |
| huge amounts of protein. | | | | far more slowly broken down and used by the |
| - You can live long-term on an all liquid, protein | | | | body. Protein is stored in the body as fat. If there |
| diet. | | | | are more calories being consumed than being |
| - Protein is never stored in the body as fat, only | | | | used, it will be stored as fat. |
| fats and carbs are. | | | | High Protein Diets are Not Safe for Everyone at |
| - High protein diets are healthy and safe for | | | | Any Age |
| everyone at any age. | | | | Any diet that focuses more on one nutrient than |
| - You need more protein in your middle age than | | | | others should be considered unsafe. An |
| you do as a senior citizen. | | | | unbalanced diet can lead to deficiencies in other |
| The following information will seek to disprove | | | | nutrients. In the recent past, a high protein diet |
| some of these myths so that everyone can eat | | | | suggested that you eliminate most, if not all |
| balanced and nutritious meals that have the | | | | sources of carbohydrates. Unfortunately, many |
| proper amount of protein, carbohydrates and fats | | | | people found out that they could not stay on this |
| for their individual body needs. | | | | diet plan for long periods. It was later learned that |
| Body Builders and Protein Consumption | | | | good carbs needed to be included in a healthy diet. |
| Being the most common of the protein myths, | | | | Likewise, some diets suggested eliminating all |
| this one relates to body builders and the huge | | | | sources of fat, which also turned out to be not |
| canisters of protein supplements and other | | | | only difficult to maintain but unhealthy as well. |
| products that promise to bulk you up quickly and | | | | Higher protein diets should not be confused with |
| easily. Many people think that if they gulp down | | | | high protein diets. Slightly increasing your protein |
| powders, bars and shakes before or after they | | | | intake each day can help you to lose weight |
| work out, they will achieve the same results. | | | | because it helps you to feel full for longer on less |
| Body builders do not get big and buff because | | | | food. A slightly increased intake of protein is |
| they increase their protein intake to extreme | | | | needed for those who are lifting weights or |
| amounts. Instead, they get big because they are | | | | actively exercising more than four days a week. |
| genetically predisposed to getting big, because | | | | But there is no need to go extreme with protein |
| they work out for incredible amounts every single | | | | intake. |
| day of their lives and because they eat carefully | | | | High levels of protein can lead to gallstones as well |
| programmed meals that do include some additional | | | | as the most common type of kidney stone, the |
| protein but also many other nutrients as well. | | | | calcium oxalate stone. Ironically, high protein may |
| Body builders typically only need between 1.2 and | | | | also contribute to osteoporosis, especially if it |
| 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of their body | | | | comes from animal sources. Protein that comes |
| weight, not far above the 1 gram that is needed | | | | from meat or other animal sources increases |
| by the average person who can be considered to | | | | calcium loss and weakens the bones. (Source: Neil |
| be very active. To put that into perspective: very | | | | Barnard, M.D. Eat Right, Live Longer.) |
| active exercise is typically defined as moderate to | | | | Other conditions that might be affected by a high |
| intense exertion for 30-60 minutes at least four | | | | protein diet: |
| times a week. This could include power yoga, | | | | - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. CFS sufferers tend |
| which means that the slender and flexible yogi or | | | | to have more food allergies than other people and |
| yogini needs just about the same amount of | | | | will feel better once the allergies are detected and |
| protein that a body builder needs to add to their | | | | treated. The ability to digest protein tends to be |
| diet. | | | | one of the biggest problems seen with this |
| Living Long-Term on a Liquid Protein Diet? | | | | condition. |
| Another common protein myth is that you can | | | | - HIV. People who are HIV positive do need to |
| comfortably and safely rely on a liquid protein | | | | get enough protein in their diet, however, they |
| based diet for the long term without any adverse | | | | should be getting the right amount for their |
| health affects or problems. Number one: humans | | | | individual needs because too much can lead to |
| typically cannot rely on a totally liquid diet for | | | | dehydration. |
| longer than a few days or a few weeks because | | | | - Parkinson's Disease. People with this condition are |
| they miss the mouth feel of real food. This leads | | | | typically treated with levodopa, which is an amino |
| to cravings, which will typically kick off a | | | | acid. Because proteins are made up of amino |
| diet-ending food binge. In addition, it is nearly | | | | acids, they may interfere with levodopa getting to |
| impossible to get enough calories in with an all | | | | the brain. On the other hand, trying to eat too |
| liquid protein diet, leading to related problems that | | | | little protein can mean that too much of the |
| include a slowed metabolism, amenorrhea (loss of | | | | medication will get to the brain. (Source: Robert G. |
| the menstrual cycle) and constipation. (Source: | | | | Feldman M.D. |
| The Vanderbilt University Psychology Department) | | | | |