The Fantasy and Trauma of Low-Carbohydrate, High-Protein (LCHP) Diets [Article]

Have you tried losing weight on a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet (LHCP)?  Chances are the answer is ‘yes’, especially since this approach to dieting has been repackaged many times over. Unfortunately, the joke was on you.

Not only do LHCP diets have a terrible track record for long-term weight reduction, there is ample evidence mounting over the past forty years that they are detrimental to your health.  In 2001, the American Heart Association warned of the increased risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes, stroke, and several types of cancer as a result of the LCHP diet fantasy.  A number of studies have even found it to increase mortality [1, 2, 3].  But, this associated morbidity (disease states) and mortality is likely the direct result of being generally unhealthy and induced through any unnatural diet and sedentary lifestyle.  Furthermore, most people entertaining LCHP diets are usually desperate after multiple unsuccessful diet attempts, and are looking for the typical “quick fix” diet to miraculously make them “healthy”.  Unfortunately, the metabolic derangements and physical degeneration due to such a diet helps set the stage for chronic disease.

So, why were so many duped by the low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet fantasy?  Because, at first, people did lose weight.  The physiology behind this staged, fantasy weight loss is very simple: diuresis, or increased water loss, and glycogen-store metabolism.  Thus, losing 5-10 pounds in one week is completely possible.  But, never mind the absolute disarray and imbalance the body must endure during such a period…. never mind the trauma!

Diuresis causes loss of vital total body water content, not to mention important minerals/electrolytes.  With a LCHP diet, the body resorts to fat metabolism for energy as there is little to no carbohydrate available.  Fat metabolism increases the level of circulating fatty acids which then are converted to ketone bodies.  Ketone bodies are used for energy. As they accumulate, ketone bodies promote an acidic physiologic state specifically known as ketosis (in its extreme, ketoacidosis).  As MENDicators already know, acidic physiology is not consistent with a healthy body.  These excess acids, like toxins, are dealt with by the body through numerous means, one of which is it being diluted and washed away by water through the kidneys.  Ketone bodies are filtered through the kidneys and, along with water and other minerals, are eliminated through urine [4, 5].  During the induction phase of a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet, many dieters realize the increased urine output.  What they don’t realize is the progressive damage done to their end-organs (heart, liver, kidneys, etc.).  For example, when chronically acidic, the body will try to neutralize the acid by pulling calcium phosphate from bone causing osteoporosis.

As for glycogen, it is a stored-form of carbohydrate primarily in the liver, muscle tissue, and red blood cells.  Glycogen’s mass alone contributes to the weight of an individual.  It can even contribute up to 10% of the weight of a normal, healthy liver [6].  When carbohydrate levels in the blood run low, the body begins to utilize these carbohydrate stores through a process which requires relatively large amounts of water.  Again, water is being taken out of the cells (where it is needed to maintain cellular architecture and basic function), being put into circulation, then being excreted through the kidneys.  Ultimately, glycogen metabolism leads to weight loss by both diuresis and depletion of glycogen molecule mass.

But, as most dieters quickly find out, the LCHP diet is a fantasy.  Straying from carbohydrates, particularly healthy, complex carbohydrate foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains/brans/oats, and various legumes is to the detriment of your health.  In the long-term, most people regain their lost weight, and some even gain back more.  As soon as they resume carbohydrate intake, their body begins to replace lost water, retain sodium, and restore glycogen in the body causing a rebound weight gain.  For those that successfully lose weight and keep it off, the reason is usually because of a decreased total caloric intake in general [7, 8].  However, these people usually have micro-/phytonutrient and fiber deficiencies that, as mentioned earlier, help set the stage for chronic disease [3, 9].

Aside from regaining weight and the increased risk of diseases mentioned above, there are also a number of concerning symptoms, metabolic aberrations, and disease processes occurring that merit mentioning.  Most of these symptoms are related to a combination of ketosis/acidosis, dehydration, malnutrition, electrolyte loss/disturbances, and low fiber intake.  Such adverse effects of the low-carbohydrate, high-protein fantasy and trauma diet are (and not limited to):

• Symptoms of Ketosis (dehydration, dizziness, headache, lethargy, fatigue, mental “fog”, nausea, stomach ache, sleep disturbance, bad breath, shortness of breath)
• Symptoms of low fiber (constipation, bloating, indigestion, acid reflux/heartburn, flatulence)
• Muscle cramps
• Irritability
• Depression/apathy
• Increased uric acid and/or gout attacks [5, 10]
• Ketogenic state/ketosis
• Chronic Metabolic Acidosis
• Osteoporosis [11, 12, 13]
• Renal stress and/or damage [14, 15]
• Loss of minerals (especially calcium) [3, 5, 16, 17, 18 ]
• Nutritional deficiencies [3, 18, 19, 20]
• Optic Neuropathy [19, 20]
• Increased serum cholesterol and LDL [7, 21]
• Nephrolithiasis/Kidney Stones [22]
• Liver Damage [18]
• Atherosclerosis/Vascular Diseases [23]
• Coronary Artery Disease [18]
• Diabetes [18]
• Stroke [18]
• Cancer [18, 24]
• Possible abnormal fetal development

So, are you still interested in a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet?  If you’re on a LCHP regimen, do not be discouraged.  MENDication can help free you of this joke; it can bring you back to reality from fantasy and repair the trauma.  But, time is of the essence.  Some basic steps to take immediately: stop the protein overdose, eat more vegetables and fruits (yes, do not fear complex carbohydrates), eat more naturally, drink plenty of water, and remain active.

MENDication’s program is personalized and helps the individual to effectively lose weight and keep it off.  Of course, this is only a sign of its efficacy as its primary focus is to optimize metabolism, nutrition, digestion, and detoxification in order to restore vitality and health.

Don’t allow this joke to be played on you or your loved ones.  Take your MENDication today.