A High Protein Diet Tends to Cause Water Loss Because

A diet is whatever a person eats, regardless of the goal—whether it is losing weight, gaining weight, reducing fat intake, avoiding carbohydrates, or having no particular goal. However, the term is often used to imply a goal of losing weight, which is an obsession for many people.

Standard healthy diets for children and adults are based on the needs of average people who have certain characteristics:

• They do not need to lose or gain weight.

• They do not need to restrict any component of the diet because of disorders, risk, or advanced age.

• They expend average amounts of energy through exercise or other vigorous activities.

Thus, for a particular person, a healthy diet may vary substantially from what is recommended in standard diets. For example, special diets are required by people who have diabetes Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to be abnormally high. Urination and thirst are... read more , certain kidney or liver disorders, coronary artery disease Overview of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Coronary artery disease is a condition in which the blood supply to the heart muscle is partially or completely blocked. The heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. The coronary... read more , high cholesterol levels Dyslipidemia Dyslipidemia is a high level of lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, or both) or a low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level. Lifestyle, genetics, disorders (such as low thyroid hormone... read more , osteoporosis Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a condition in which a decrease in the density of bones weakens the bones, making breaks (fractures) likely. Aging, estrogen deficiency, low vitamin D or calcium intake, and... read more , diverticular disease Definition of Diverticular Disease Diverticular disease is characterized by small, balloon-like sacs (diverticula) protruding through the layers of particular structures in the gastrointestinal tract (digestive tract). A single... read more , chronic constipation Constipation in Adults Constipation is difficult or infrequent bowel movements, hard stool, or a feeling that the rectum is not totally empty after a bowel movement (incomplete evacuation). (See also Constipation... read more , or food sensitivities. There are special dietary recommendations for young children, but little guidance is available for other age groups, such as older people.

Weight loss requires consuming fewer calories than the body uses. People are usually advised to consume 500 to 1000 fewer calories per day to lose about 1 to 2 pounds per week. One pound of body fat stores about 3,500 calories. However, there is no guarantee that each 3,500 calories eliminated from the diet will cause a pound of weight loss because many factors affect how much weight is lost (or gained), as in the following examples:

• As people lose weight, the body starts using energy more efficiently (possibly intended to guard against starvation), so that fewer calories are burned and less fat is broken down for energy.

• How much fat and weight are lost, even when the same number of calories is eliminated, varies a great deal from one person to another.

Thus, predicting how much fat and weight a person will lose is difficult.

Most conservative weight loss diets involve consuming at least 1,200 to 1,400 calories a day. When rapid weight loss is needed, fewer than 1,000 calories may be consumed. Such diets should be used only if prescribed and supervised by a doctor. Then the doctor can make sure that the diet contains enough essential nutrients, including protein. Consuming fewer than 800 calories is hard to tolerate and is not recommended without doctor supervision.

To be healthy, weight loss diets should provide about the same volume of food (by including more fiber and fluids) as the normal diet. They should also be low in saturated fat and sugar and include essential nutrients, including antioxidants.

The following general guidelines may help people lose weight:

• Reading food labels: People learn what nutrients and how many calories food, including beverages, contains. Then, people can plan their diet more effectively.

• Counting calories: People keep track of the number of calories they eat. This strategy helps people control calorie intake.

• Choosing nutrient-rich, low-calorie foods: When fewer calories are consumed, getting the needed nutrients—particularly vitamins and minerals—is more difficult. So people should choose foods that contain many nutrients but not many calories. For example, beans and legumes provide many nutrients without providing many calories. These foods are also high in fiber High-fiber diets A diet is whatever a person eats, regardless of the goal—whether it is losing weight, gaining weight, reducing fat intake, avoiding carbohydrates, or having no particular goal. However, the... read more and bulk and thus help people feel full and satisfied. Eating fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors (such as strawberries, peaches, broccoli, spinach, and squash) is a way to get a variety of recommended nutrients and antioxidants.

• Eating certain types of foods at certain times of the day: For example, fast-energy foods, such as carbohydrates, are best eaten when the body needs a large supply of energy—that is, in the morning and during vigorous exercise. The body's need for energy is lowest at night, so avoiding carbohydrates in the evening may help.

• Using sugar and fat substitutes: Such substitutes and foods that contain them can sometimes help people reduce calorie intake.

• Exercising: Combining increased exercise with dieting greatly enhances weight loss because exercise increases the number of calories the body uses. For example, vigorous walking burns about 4 calories per minute, so that 1 hour of brisk walking per day burns about 240 calories. Running is even better, burning about 6 to 8 calories per minute. Physical activity helps preserve the amount of muscle tissue (muscle mass) people have, and resistance exercises may increase muscle mass. Because muscle tissue, even at rest, burns more calories than fat tissue, having more muscle increases the metabolic rate (the amount of calories the body burns while at rest) and the number of calories people need.

Diets high in protein and low in simple carbohydrates have become popular as a way to lose weight. Most of these diets usually also restrict fat because each gram of fat supplies so many calories. However, some high-protein/low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins diet, do not restrict fat.

The theory behind these diets is that slower-burning energy sources—protein and fat—provide a steady supply of energy and thus are less likely to lead to weight gain. In addition, people tend to feel full longer after eating protein more than other macronutrients, and doing so helps to preserve lean body mass while dieting. On the other hand, carbohydrates empty from the stomach quickly and are digested quickly. Carbohydrates also stimulate insulin production, which promotes fat deposition and increases appetite.

Experts disagree about whether or not avoiding foods with a high glycemic index Glycemic index Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats supply 90% of the dry weight of the diet and 100% of its energy. All three provide energy (measured in calories), but the amount of energy in 1 gram (1/28 ounce)... read more helps with weight loss, particularly in low-carbohydrate diets. The effect of the glycemic index is less important when only a small percentage of total calories is carbohydrates. In a low-carbohydrate diet, the difference between how fast the carbohydrates in various foods (with their different glycemic indexes) are digested is sometimes so small that it makes little difference to most dieters. Avoiding foods with a high glycemic index also sometimes eliminates foods with valuable vitamins and minerals. Experts also disagree on how important the glycemic load (the glycemic index plus the amount of carbohydrate in a food) is for weight loss.

Some experts do not recommend following a high-protein diet for a long time. Some evidence suggests that over years, very high protein diets impair kidney function and may contribute to the decrease in kidney function that occurs in older people. People with certain kidney and liver disorders should not consume a high-protein diet. Also, high-protein diets can speed the body's processing of certain drugs and thus may affect how well the drug works.

Very low carbohydrate diets (of less than 100 grams a day) can lead to the accumulation of keto acids (ketosis). When people do not consume enough energy for the body's needs and have no carbohydrates stored in the body to use for energy, the body breaks down fats. As part of this process, the body produces keto acids. In small amounts, keto acids are easily excreted by the kidneys without causing symptoms. However, in large amounts, they can cause nausea, fatigue, bad breath, and even more serious symptoms, such as dizziness (due to dehydration Dehydration Dehydration is a deficiency of water in the body. Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, burns, kidney failure, and use of diuretics may cause dehydration. People feel thirsty, and as dehydration... read more ) and abnormal heart rhythms Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) are sequences of heartbeats that are irregular, too fast, too slow, or conducted via an abnormal electrical pathway through the heart. Heart disorders are... read more (due to electrolyte Overview of Electrolytes Well over half of the body's weight is made up of water. Doctors think about the body's water as being restricted to various spaces, called fluid compartments. The three main compartments are... read more imbalances). People following a low-carbohydrate diet (or any other weight loss diet) should drink large amounts of water to help flush keto acids from the body.

Low-carbohydrate diets tend to cause large amounts of weight to be lost during the first week or so, as the body converts stored carbohydrates (glycogen) to energy. As glycogen is broken down, the body also excretes large amounts of water, adding to the weight loss. However, once the body begins to use stored fat for energy, weight loss slows. People following a low-carbohydrate diet may substitute fats for the carbohydrates they are avoiding. In such cases, the diet may be so high in fat that the total caloric intake exceeds what the body uses. In such cases, weight loss stops after glycogen is used up.

Three popular high-protein/low-carbohydrate diets aimed mainly at weight loss are the keto diet, paleo diet, and Atkins diet.

The keto (ketosis) diet is based on severely restricting carbohydrate intake to less than about 50 grams a day and, in doing so, mobilizing fat as a source of energy for the brain. Calories are not restricted to any prespecified level but are obtained by consuming protein and fat but very limited carbohydrate, including limited amounts of fruits and vegetables. It is proposed that not feeling hungry and appetite control are due to the high protein intake and formation of ketones, which are made in the liver from fat when carbohydrate intake is low. This diet may be superior to low-fat diets for weight loss. Side effects of the keto diet include "keto flu," which includes symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and trouble thinking. Long term it can result in kidney stones and bone loss. People with chronic medical conditions including diabetes and kidney failure should not go on this diet without medical supervision.

The paleo diet is a low-carbohydrate diet based on the foods that might have been eaten during the Paleolithic era. It consists of protein, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds and eliminates grains, dairy, potatoes, sugar, and processed food. This diet may be easier to follow than the keto diet because it is less restrictive; however, it may still be a challenge to sustain weight loss.

The Atkins diet is based on limiting calories to about 2,000 calories a day by restricting carbohydrates but not limiting fats and protein.

Fat supplies a large number of calories per gram and is more readily deposited as body fat than are proteins and carbohydrates. A reduction of only 10 grams of fat per day saves about 90 calories. Thus, reducing the amount of fat rather than the amount of protein or carbohydrate might seem a faster way to lose weight. However, such a diet may not work unless overall caloric intake is reduced. For example, people on low-fat diets may consume more carbohydrates and protein than normal and thus ultimately consume more calories.

The Pritikin diet is a low-fat/low-protein diet based on consuming whole, unprocessed, and natural carbohydrate-rich foods, such as grains, vegetables, and fruit.

Fiber indirectly helps with weight loss in several ways:

• It provides bulk, which makes people feel full faster.

• It slows the rate at which the stomach empties so people feel full longer.

• It requires more chewing, forcing people to eat more slowly and perhaps less.

High-fiber foods, such as fruits and vegetables, wheat bread, and beans, are filling without providing many calories. Eating more high-fiber foods may enable people to eat fewer less filling, high-calorie foods, such as high-fat foods. However, fiber supplements, such as guar gum and cellulose, are not effective for weight loss.

Many people use liquid diets to lose weight, mainly because they are convenient. However, the contents of such liquids vary, and many are unlikely to be of much help in losing weight.

Some commercially available liquid diets are well-balanced, with appropriate proportions of protein, carbohydrates, and fat plus supplemental vitamins and minerals, as are most liquid diets obtained from a doctor. Using such products to replace one to three meals daily can help people limit the number of calories they consume and thus lose weight or maintain their weight.

However, other liquid diets may contain a large proportion of carbohydrates, producing a sweet and tasty drink, and are not necessarily low in calories. Such liquid diets are more useful as a supplement to other foods for people who are trying to gain weight.

There are various weight loss commercial programs, many of which are not backed by scientific evidence for weight loss. Some popular and commercial diets are effective in the short term, but people often regain the weight because of difficulty adhering to the diet long term. Following are three popular commercial diet programs currently marketed.

TOPS or Take Pounds Off Sensibly is a behavioral program that promotes a calorie-restricted, portion-controlled meal plan with behavioral and educational support in the form of in-person meetings and online tools. More than 60% of participants have lost and maintained weight loss for 7 years when they stay in the program.

WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers) is a commercial weight loss program that consists of a calorie-restricted, portion-controlled dietary plan with behavioral support in the form of weekly group meetings. Studies show that referral to WW can be a beneficial addition to weight loss therapy provided by a physician and results in greater weight loss and adherence to a higher quality diet quality as compared to as compared to other low calorie dietary interventions.

Meal replacement diets are an effective strategy for weight loss and weight maintenance. Meal replacement-based commercial weight loss programs (eg, Jenny Craig) have demonstrated successful weight loss as have other dietary plans that include commercial meal replacements. Weight loss is greater if the number of meal replacements is higher.

There are many fad diets, including some of the above. Many fad diets promise quick weight loss and do not provide any scientific evidence of their effectiveness. Some require extreme reductions in the number of calories consumed. Others rely on supplements alleged to help burn fat. Still others are based on eating a single type of food.

These diets have not been shown to lead to sustained weight loss, and many are dangerous. Some provide inadequate amounts of essential nutrients and, over time, can lead to serious metabolic disturbances, such as loss of bone density and strength (including osteoporosis Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a condition in which a decrease in the density of bones weakens the bones, making breaks (fractures) likely. Aging, estrogen deficiency, low vitamin D or calcium intake, and... read more ), problems with menstruation, abnormal heart rhythms Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) are sequences of heartbeats that are irregular, too fast, too slow, or conducted via an abnormal electrical pathway through the heart. Heart disorders are... read more , high cholesterol levels Dyslipidemia Dyslipidemia is a high level of lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, or both) or a low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level. Lifestyle, genetics, disorders (such as low thyroid hormone... read more , kidney stones Stones in the Urinary Tract Stones (calculi) are hard masses that form in the urinary tract and may cause pain, bleeding, or an infection or block of the flow of urine. Tiny stones may cause no symptoms, but larger stones... read more , and worsening of gout Gout Gout is a disorder in which deposits of uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints because of high blood levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia). The accumulations of crystals cause flare-ups ... read more .

The Mediterranean diet contains large amounts of olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. It includes fish and poultry (but in smaller amounts than fish). Consumption of dairy, meats such as beef and pork, and sweets is limited. Drinking wine in moderation is encouraged.

Studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet helps reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease. This diet significantly reduces the risk of death due to coronary artery disease, as well as the risk of having a heart attack, a stroke, and angina (chest pain that occurs when the heart does not get enough blood and oxygen).

When the number of calories consumed is reduced, the Mediterranean diet may result in greater weight loss than a low-fat diet. This type of diet may be especially helpful for people who are overweight, have diabetes or a heart disorder, or have risk factors for atherosclerosis (and coronary artery disease).

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet emphasizes eating lots of fruits and vegetables and using low-fat dairy products. Thus, the diet is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. It includes poultry, fish, whole grains, and nuts and limits consumption of red meats, sweets, and salt.

A High Protein Diet Tends to Cause Water Loss Because

Source: https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/disorders-of-nutrition/overview-of-nutrition/diets

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