Group On The Protein Power Plan Diet example essay topic

Protein Power Diet Review Perhaps one of the most acclaimed of the low-carbohydrate diets, Protein Power, has helped thousands of people lose weight, avoid chronic disease, and increase health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure readings. Developed by Doctors Michael and Mary Dan Eades, the regimen calls for eating a protein-rich, moderate-fat, low-carbohydrate diet and an intense resistance exercise routine. Although no major healthcare organization embraces low-carbohydrate diets, many medical professionals believe that Protein Power is a healthy way to eliminate some major health concerns and help you lose weight. Amazingly, the authors report that because of their plan, 60 percent of their patients have stopped taking their blood pressure medicine, 100 percent stop taking their cholesterol-lowering medicine, and 90 to 95 percent of diabetics are able to stop their diabetic medicine. (Eades, Eatprotein. com) In addition to weight loss, these results are achieved through meal planning, high protein intake, carbohydrate limits, vitamins, and exercise. The plan emphasizes that hormone insulin, released by carbohydrates, causes health problems such as heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, fluid retention, diabetes and excessive weight.

The authors provide accurate scientific explanations about the functions of insulin and glycogen, two of the body's major hormones involved in the nutritional process. By minimizing carbohydrate consumption and increasing protein intake, your body will burn fat faster. The Protein Power plan begins with calculating your protein needs, which are determined to be 0.6 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass for a moderately active person, more for persons who are more active and less for those who are less active. The proper care of lean body mass requires that every day you provide it with enough high-quality protein to carry out all of its vital functions. Specifically, each and every pound of your lean body mass needs six-tenths of 1 gram of protein every day if you are a person of moderate physical activity and fitness". (Eades 93) Lean body mass and body fat percentage is then calculated using standardized charts and ideal body weight worksheets that use height, hip and abdomen measurements in women and weight, wrist and waist measurements in men.

The physician authors then introduce a high protein diet that they developed for their own patient population. The plan is divided into two phases, one for those who need to lose 20 percent of their bodyweight or more, and the other for those closer to their ideal weight who simply wish to recompose their muscle-fat ratio and embark on a healthier lifestyle. Dieters are advised to obtain the minimum amounts of protein based on their calculations, and plan their meals around the right number of grams of protein. The suggested diet consists primarily of fish, poultry, red meat, low-fat cheese, eggs, and tofu. Carbohydrates are limited to 30 or 50 grams daily, divided throughout the day. "The quickest and actually the only way to achieve metabolic control is to restrict the amount of metabolically active carbohydrates you put into your system".

(Eades 107) Using food charts, dieters are allowed to select from a variety of different foods, primarily fruits and green leafy vegetables such as peppers, avocados, broccoli, eggplant, zucchini, green beans, asparagus, celery, cucumber, mushrooms, and salads. The plan requires that you also get 25 grams of fiber each day, but allows you to subtract the fiber grams from the carbohydrate grams in commercial foods, which means you can eat more carbohydrates. Once carbohydrate intake is under control, the authors suggest that there is no longer any need to worry about fat. Because humans need fat and use it quite well as fuel, the Eades do not limit fat in their clinical patients. The authors say "Don't worry about eating high-quality monounsaturated and naturally saturated fats as long as you follow the plan guidelines with regard to carbohydrate intake". (Eades 102) They recommend healthy fats such as olive oil, nut oils, avocado, and butter.

Because carbohydrate consumption is low, your body will use these fats as fuel. In addition to a protein rich diet, the Eades plan includes resistance training, specifically weight lifting. "The single best exercise you can do to improve your health is to lift weights". (Eades 194) As you increase muscle mass, you metabolic rate will increase, allowing you to increase your food intake without gaining fat.

Because of the high-protein diet, you will have plenty of amino-acids and growth hormone to build and repair pounds of fat burning muscle. "As your muscle mass continues to build, your body will begin to result itself. You will lose all the little handles and bulges of fat you could not get rid of before, no matter how hard you dieted". (Eades 195) Although this diet seems to be reasonably healthy, the authors suggest seeking guidance from a doctor before using the program if you are pregnant or taking medications to control cholesterol, blood pressure, fluid retention, or blood sugar.

Douglas Kalman, MS, RD, a nutritionist, researcher, and registered dietitian who specializes in advanced medical nutrition therapy, sports nutrition and metabolism agrees that "People with kidney problems or a strong family history of kidney problems should avoid this diet. As far as if these diets are safe for long term use, with all things being equal... we have to define what constitutes a high protein diet. Research to date indicates that in a normal person this diet appear to be safe". (Kalman, About. com) For the reason that many medical professionals have concerns regarding dehydration and the stringent withdrawal of carbohydrates, the authors provide very detailed information for those persons who need more guidance in their plan.

When asked about the safety of the Protein Power Plan in a WebMD live event transcript, Michael Eades replied "Yes. Absolutely safe. And yes, it supplies all the nutrients required for good nutrition. In fact, low-carb diets have been studied at many times and are nutritionally adequate in all categories. And remember there is no requirement for dietary carbohydrates!" (Eades WebMD. com) In a review of Protein Power written by Kathy Goodwin, a registered dietitian for The Diet Channel, she stated that "The diet is very healthy even though some nutritionists don't agree with the high protein, low carbohydrate way of life. The plan is based on facts and goes into great detail on how the body's systems work and why eating this way can eliminate some major health concerns and help you to lose weight.

The plan explains all of these health concerns and how the plan can help the body reduce the risks and eliminate these concerns". (Goodwin Chase freedom. com) In comparison to The Zone, a similar diet with higher carbohydrate intake, the Eades found that weight loss occurs more rapidly using their plan due to lower insulin levels. Recently, a study was performed in Switzerland at the University of Geneva along with Stanford University which studied two controlled groups, one being on a Zone based diet with higher amounts of carbohydrates, and the other on a Protein Power style diet, with lower amounts of carbohydrates. Researchers found that over a six week period, the group on the Protein Power Plan diet not only lost more weight but their insulin levels decreased by 46% compared to 8% in the Zone approach. (Eades, Eatprotein. com) Despite these research results, there will continue to be controversy surrounding high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. Without the support of major healthcare organizations, Protein Power has overcome previous dieting strategies and strengthened the high-protein diet trend.

Until recent years, most dieters were advised to decrease fat, increase complex carbohydrates, and eat moderate amounts of protein. However, due to the success of Doctors Michael and Mary Eades in reducing health problems and promoting weight loss in their patients, many health professionals are beginning to support the Protein Power Plan.