What are high-protein and low-carb diets?

You see them gripping on their respective exercise machines...all gritty with determination to lose those extra pounds and build muscles. Instead of taking weight-loss pills they have decided to improve their physique by getting that expensive gym membership where they can workout their way to optimum health. Aside from lifting weights, these “gym rats” also religiously follow a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet prepared by their personal trainers and sports nutritionists. Each fitness gym promotes various fitness fads and routines from yoga, pilates, core fitness ball method, tae-bo, pole and belly dancing, and a host of other exercises. Still, the gym members are carefully taught that these exercises can only fully benefit them if they also follow a well-prepared diet. Workouts, they are told, will not work if the “weight watcher” refuses to limit food intake.

It is along those lines that diet formulas have gained popularity in the fitness world. One such diet formula is the Atkin's Diet, undeniably among the most well-known diets that had already gained a strong following. Developed by Dr. Robert Atkins, the diet was first promoted in the 1960s as a solution to the emerging weight problems among many Americans. Considered a high-protein diet, the Atkins' formula spawned other methods or plans to control food intake. The diet craze gave birth to the “Stillman” diet in the 1970's, and the “Scarsdale” diet in the 1980's --- both of which promised leaner bodies and smaller waistlines. Atkins, Stillman, and Scarsdale made similar claims about the benefits of high-protein diets. They said that eliminating or taking minimal amounts of carbohydrates will lead to controlled weight and increased muscle size.

According to physiologists and diet specialists, muscles literally break down when one works out or exerts physical action. Protein, as a muscle-building substance, is needed to build and re-build the muscles that are in constant daily use. People, especially athletes, who regularly expend large amounts of energy and utilize different muscle groups need regular supply of protein to build or retain muscle mass. Without enough protein in the body, the goal to increase muscle mass cannot be achieved. Additional protein is also needed to develop hard and ripped muscles. Weightlifters, all of whom aim to gain muscle mass, are the foremost followers of these high-protein diets. They are often found gulping protein shakes and consuming lean meat and tuna.

High protein diets are popular because they initially cause one's weight to drop. Protein promotes the metabolism of body fat without reducing one's calorie intake. But doctors also warn that this drop is a reflection of fluid loss and not fat. Recent researches indicate these restrictions on carbohydrate intake coupled with fluid loss may cause an unusual metabolic state called ketosis. In ketosis, the body burns fat for fuel. During ketosis, a person may even feel less hungry and eat less. Still, ketosis has ben associated with health problems such as kidney failure, colon and prostate cancer, and osteoporosis. Ketosis may also cause less serious health problems such as weakness of breath, headaches. diarrhea, sleep difficulties, bone loss, and fatigue. Additionally, some studies claim that high-protein diets may lead to increased lactic acid in the body. Muscle pains according to studies may be experienced due to the increased lactic acid levels in the body.

The Weight Loss Diet That Isn't a Diet

Proteins

Ever notice all the contradictions about protein's roll in a weight loss diet? Some diet plans promote a high protein intake while others ignore it. What's the real story? Protein is vital to your health and cannot be eliminated without serious consequences. Too little protein means your body starts using up muscle tissue for fuel, which slows down your metabolism and a sluggish metabolism makes weight loss even more difficult.

But too much protein can also impede your efforts to lose weight because your body will convert it into fat. And excess protein can cause health problems like kidney damage and decreased absorption of calcium. This is why a balanced intake of protein is necessary for a health weight loss diet. How much and how often you eat it are also important factors. Your body can't store protein, so it needs a constant supply throughout the day. So eating a protein-rich food every three or four hours will keep you in balance.

Eating Protein The Right Way

Saving up your daily protein allotment so you can indulge in a 16 ounce steak for dinner doesn't work because it forces the body to go a long time without any protein and then suddenly it gets much more than it needs. That causes it to burn muscle during the lean times, and later convert all that extra meat protein into fat... two unwanted side effects that will derail even the best weight loss diet.

Here are some tips:

• Eat small protein portions every 3 to 4 hours each day.
• Eat only one protein serving four times a day, don't double them up in one meal.
• Don't skip a protein meal; and don't eat a large protein meal.
• Choose proteins from a low fat or no fat food source.

Muscle Building Food - Best Foods For Building

Professional bodybuilders boast off their good physique and they attribute the credit to their tough workout and carefully planned nutritional diet. But as studies indicate, there are many myths about the body building nutrition

You have to realize that there is no one food that can be considered solely as a muscle building food. To have a complete diet to be considered as a muscle building food needs to be comprised of multiple foods but the common trait in all of these foods is protein. This category of food identified as protein must be concentrated on in order to allow your muscles to grow.

Insuring that you have protein in your daily eating habits will bring back the fun and anticipation of eating delicious foods in your life. By having protein as part of your diet you will enhance your muscle building food for your muscles to grow. You will realize from the information given to you by the end of this article what I mean by this.

So what's so great about protein? Protein is to muscle like keratin is to hair growth. Without protein in your body you will not have muscle growth. Period. Protein is the key ingredient in a muscle building food diet because it is the stimulus that muscles need to have them grow bigger. The body uses the protein to break it down to the amino acids which are the core nutrient for building and repairing muscle.

Protein foods that you can put to use in your diet will be detailed shortly. But before I get to that aspect of things to come you need to understand the frequency of eating that you need to have. In short, eat a lot. Eat 6-7 times daily in portioned snacks and meals through the day. Make sure that no more than three hours lapses between meals or snacks. Eating at three hour intervals will not let your body lose energy and also you won't be famished when it comes time for your regular meal.

Protein comes in many different forms of food. The following will list just a beginning of protein related foods that you can find your local shopping market. These are not special foods but just common foods that are packed with protein.

Eggs. This is a good source of protein and recently researchers have shown that the common egg also is indicative of the supply of omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Legumes. Beans. All kinds of beans associated with legumes. Pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, lima beans and the like. Eating beans as a source of protein has times been labeled a poor mans diet and that is just a fabrication of facts. Beans contain fiber that keeps your blood sugar level throughout the day so that you don't get cravings unnecessarily and keeps your energy level at an even keel all day long.

Nuts. There is so much protein nutrients in this type of muscle building food that there is no excuse for you not to have a bowl full of nuts readily available for snacking. Nuts contain vegetable protein, fiber, vitamin E and a lot more anti-oxidants that your body needs.

Having protein in your diet is one of the most important nutrients that you can start having in your meals. Get serious with yourself and start simple with the foods that are listed here and you will feel good about yourself knowing that you are replenishing your body for muscle growth. Foods that are rich in fats and essential fatty acids are oily fish, flaxseed oil, olive oil, avocado, cottage cheese and nuts. Choose these muscle-building foods in different combinations and eat small five to six meals a day. Processed foods and junk foods are not meant for bodybuilders. Also you should avoid high sugar content foods like fruit juices.