High Protein Diets and their Risks! - and fats

[Guest guest]

Jo Anne wrote: (article by Monique N. Gilbert, B.S.)

> Many people are putting their health at risk by eating to 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.

 

A good article Jo Anne. The pitfalls of the high protein diet include

increased LDLs, increased elimination of minerals especially calcium,

increased stress on the kidneys.

 

> 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.

 

Agreed.

 

> By replacing animal protein with vegetable protein and replacing saturated fat

> with unsaturated fat, like that found in olive and canola oils ....

 

I don't think canola oil (rapeseed) is a good choice. Olive oil is high in

monounsaturated fat while rapeseed has more polyunsaturated fat.

Sunflower has the most polyunsaturated fat (see Ray Peat, PhD comments about

fatty acids).

 

A study questioning the value of olive oil in a heart healthy diet appeared

in a technical journal without attracting any media attention. Extra virgin

olive, rapeseed, and sunflower oil enriched diets were fed to 18 young,

healthy men. The study appeared in the December 2000 edition of the Journal

of Lipid Research.

http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/abstract/41/12/1901

 

" Plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, IDL and LDL cholesterol were all

10-20% higher in people on olive oil enriched diets than the other fat

enriched diets. HDL cholesterol did not change on any diet. The authors

attributed some of the differences found to the plant equivalents of

cholesterol - campesterol and sitosterol.

 

" This study suggests that a certain amount of polyunsaturated fat is needed

in the diet and that monounsaturated fat (olive oil) should not be consumed

in unlimited amounts. "

 

 

Here is another interesting (and alarming) viewpoint by Ray Peat, Ph.D.:

 

" Those fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid, which are

found in linseed oil, soy oil, walnut oil, almond oil, corn oil, etc., are

essential for the spontaneous development of cancer, and also appear to be

decisive factors in the development of age pigment, alcoholic cirrhosis of

the liver, diabetes, obesity, stress-induced immunodeficiency, some aspects

of the shock reaction, epilepsy, brain swelling, congenital retardation,

hardening of the arteries, cataracts, and other degenerative conditions.

They are possibly the most important TOXIN for animals. "

 

A summary of his article:

 

SUMMARY

 

* Unsaturated fats cause aging, clotting, inflammation, cancer, and weight

gain.

 

* Avoid foods which contain the polyunsaturated oils, such as corn, soy,

safflower, flax, cottonseed, canola, peanut, and sesame oil.

 

* Mayonnaise, pastries, even candies may contain these oils; check the

labels for ingredients.

 

* Pork is now fed corn and soy beans, so lard is usually as toxic as those

oils; use only lean pork.

 

* Fish oils are usually highly unsaturated; " dry " types of fish, and

shellfish, used once or twice a week, are good. Avoid cod liver oil.

 

* Use vitamin E.

 

* Use coconut oil, butter, and olive oil.

 

* Unsaturated fats intensify estrogen's harmful effects.

 

 

> Plant-based proteins, like that found in soy, lowers LDL cholesterol and

> raises HDL (the good) cholesterol.

 

Caution again. Soy is an inhibitor of thyroxine, and is not a good choice

for those with thyroid disease. Soy a complete protein and a staple in

vegetarian diets, but hypothyroid vegetarians should steer clear of soy.

And generally, vegetarians should be vigilant about getting complete

protein.

 

 

Joan McPhee, not an M.D.

mcpheej