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Tag: high protein diet

  • Protein Diet: Good Or Bad For Your Health?

    Are you eating enough protein? A recent study shows that people who eat more protein are less likely to suffer from a stroke.

    This is because protein helps protect against hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for a stroke.

    The study shows that for every 20 grams of protein that were consumed, a person’s risk of stroke was reduced by 26%.

    Animal proteins offer twice as much protection as vegetable proteins, but both types are beneficial.

    Doctors warn that although animal proteins such as red meat may offer protection from strokes, they can cause other health problems.

    If you are looking to add some protein to your diet in hopes of protecting yourself from strokes, add lean proteins.

    “I don’t think this study means to the public you should run out and start eating burgers and red meat,” said Dr. Ralph Sacco, chair of neurology at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. “Focusing on lean protein consumption and/or even vegetable protein is important.”

    Doctors say that although the protein is helpful, it is important to eat a well-balanced diet that consists of food from all the major food groups.

    “If we exclusively rely on protein, we are making a mistake,” said Tamayo, who wrote an editorial that accompanied the new analysis. “This is a complex disease that needs the control of multiple risk factors and lifestyle changes.”

    There are many things that can increase the risk of a stroke, including too much saturated fat, sugar and salt, as well as drinking and smoking. The best way to protect yourself from strokes and other health problems is to eat right, exercise and avoid bad habits.

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  • High-Protein Diet May Raise Cancer Risk

    High-Protein Diet May Raise Cancer Risk

    High-protein diets like the Paleo Diet and the Atkins Diet have long been associated with bodies packed with muscle and low in fat. They also have been suggested by many as a way to lose weight quickly. But a new study suggests that high protein diets may increase cancer risk, especially if a person is between the ages of 50 and 65.

    The study titled Low Protein Intake Is Associated with a Major Reduction in IGF-1, Cancer, and Overall Mortality in the 65 and Younger but Not Older Population was published in the journal Cell Metabolism on March 4, 2014, and already media outlets are pouring over the results.

    In the study, researchers followed 6,381 adults aged 50 or over that represented a cross-section of society, meaning the study population is representative of the United States population in terms of ethnicity, education, and health characteristics. Participants in the study reported dietary intake and were divided into three categories regarding protein intake.

    The first group was called the “high protein group” and consisted of individuals whose protein intake was at least twenty percent of their total calorie intake. The second group was called the “moderate protein group” and consisted of individuals whose protein intake was between 10 and 19 percent of their total calorie intake. The final group, the “low protein group” was anything beneath that.

    Results showed that both high and moderate protein groups were at a higher risk for diabetes mortality compared to the low protein group. Researchers noted however that this needed further study to solidify the link.

    Results also showed that among those between the ages of 50 and 65, high protein levels were linked to significantly increased risks of all-cause and cancer mortality. In this age group, those in the high protein group were four times more likely to die of cancer than their low protein group counterparts.

    When researchers analyzed the animal-plant protein variable, they found that when they removed animal protein from the statistical sample, the link between high protein consumption and mortality disappeared. Researchers suggest that consuming a high level of animal proteins can lead to death by all health-related causes, including cancer.

    Participants aged 65 or older actually need more protein than those in the low protein group, due to the fact that those over 65 suffer from protein malnourishment as their body weight starts to drop.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • High Protein Diets Could Be Dangerous

    High protein diets such as the Paleo diet have become very popular, but although fans of these diets swear that they are healthy and great for losing weight and staying fit, doctors warn that they can be dangerous.

    Studies show that high protein diets can be helpful for the elderly but can actually shorten the lifespan of middle aged men and women. Researchers have found that people who are over 60 and eating a high protein diet are 60% less likely to die of cancer and 28% less likely to die of any cause than those whose protein intake is lower.

    While the benefits of high protein diets are obvious in the elderly, young adults and middle aged people who have a high protein intake from certain food may be at risk for developing cancer and some doctors even claim eating a high protein diet is the equivalent of smoking 20 cigarettes a day. Protein itself is not necessarily the problem, but more so the source of the protein. Red meat for example, is high in protein, but not the best option.

    “High levels of protein can be can be as bad for you as smoking. People should understand the distinction and be able to make the decision about what they eat. Some proteins are better for you than others, for example plant-based proteins like beans. Vegans seem to do better in studies than those who eat animal based proteins. Red meat always comes out top as the worst and that’s probably due to its other components. But the good news is that there is no evidence that fish is bad for you. So fish plus vegetables is really the best group of proteins,” said Dr Longo, Professor of Biogerontology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology.

    Protein levels control the growth hormone IGF-I, which helps bodies grow but high levels of which have been linked to cancer. While the elderly are in need of higher IGF-I levels, the hormone can build up over time in a younger or middle aged person, and lead to cancer and other health problems.

    If you are considering a high protein diet, you may want to reconsider. If you do decide to consume large amounts of protein, make sure it comes from a variety of good sources including fish, vegetables and legumes.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons