Carbohydrates provide instant energy to body while proteins are the building blocks. Normal diet contain higher amount of carbohydrates in between 45%- 65%. Proteins constitute between 25% -30% of a normal balanced diet. Now a days due to increased prevalence of lifestyle diseases like obesity, hypertension, heart attack, stroke and cancer, the dietary plan is shifted towards more of low carbohydrate to high protein diet. There has been thorough discussion regarding the optimal ratio of macronutrients in balanced diet. Lots of studies regarding high protein diet have been analyzed for its potential role in maintaining good health and weight loss. The normal macronutrient proportion between carbohydrate to protein is normally 2 to 3:1. The basis of carbohydrate to protein ratio around 1.0 is the matter of debate now.
Proteins are the main constituent of skin, muscle, bone, organs. They are the building blocks of tissues promoting growth and repair and maintaining lean muscle mass.
Foods with high proteins in the diet–
• Fish, egg
• Meat, poultry
• soyabean
• Dairy products
• Pulses like green gram, bengal gram, red gram
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Mechanism of high protein to carbohydrate diet in weight loss
• The energy intake is reduced and protein diet has a more satiety effect.
• The restriction of carbohydrates leads to more loss of glycogens and more pronounced diuresis. Diuresis is increased urination due loss of high osmolar glucose. The effects are seen in earlier part and it has no effect on the stored fats in the body.
• High protein diet has been associated with reduced triglyceride level and low free fatty acid level. This in turn causes normalization of insulin level seen as hyperinsulinemia in overweight or obese patients.
• High protein diet increases the locally acting anorexigenic hormones like cholecystokinin, Glucagon like peptide-1 while decreases the orexigenic hormone like ghrelin.
M S Westerterp-Plantenga explains protein induced satiety is due to oxidation of amino acids fed in excess especially diet with incomplete proteins. Specific high protein meals or high protein diets induced satiety need a bandwidth of energy intake, protein concentrations, texture and assessment of timing effects. High amino acids level increases the anorexigenic hormones(Stijn Soenen et al). Adverse events relating to kidney damage may occur with sulphur containing aminoacids and individuals with metabolic syndrome like diabetes, obesity are more susceptible.
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