All Protein Diets

Although somewhat of a misnomer, as no diet can realistically consist of nothing but protein, all-protein diets are nonetheless effective at stimulating fat loss while keeping satiety high. Before going on an all-protein diet there are some niggling health concerns about all-protein diets that must be addressed, so if you or someone you know is considering this type of diet, here is what you need to know.

About All-Protein Diets

An all-protein diet merely refers to a diet that is relatively high in protein content compared to a "normal" diet. To determine what constitutes high protein, you should first understand normal protein requirements. The American Dietetic Association recommends daily protein intake of 0.4 grams per pound of body weight for sedentary people, 0.65 grams per pound for endurance athletes, and 0.8 grams per pound for weight trainers. Anything 10 to 20 percent greater than the recommended amount could safely be considered a high-protein or all-protein diet.

Acceptable Protein Sources

Eat mostly lean protein sources while on an all-protein diet. Eggs, lean meat, chicken, turkey and fish should be the staples of your diet. Stay away from overly fatty protein sources that are excessively high in saturated fats such as cuts of beef that are less than 85 percent lean. While some saturated fat is necessary for optimal health, too much can have an adverse effect on cholesterol levels.

All-Protein Hazards

The age-old rumor that high protein diets are bad for your kidneys is largely untrue. The studies that demonstrated adverse effects of high-protein diets on kidney health were performed on individuals who already had preexisting kidney conditions. Thus, if you do not have any history of kidney illness, your body should not have any difficulty processing a high-protein diet.

Extreme All-Protein Diets and Health

Some all-protein diets, like the Eskimo diet, require that the participant eat nothing but meat. While you might think that this would surely have negative effects on your health, keep in mind that hunter-gatherer tribes like the Eskimos and Inuits have eaten this way for generations with no adverse effects. Thus, even diets that are absurdly high in protein can still be safely used for your short- (and even long-) term weight-loss goals.

All-Protein and Weight Loss

All-protein diets stimulate weight loss by using the concept known as the thermic effect of food. The thermic effect of food states that the body must burn calories to digest calories, with the highest "cost" of digestion coming from ingested protein. Therefore, diets that are higher in protein require more energy for the body to process, increasing metabolism and speeding up your weight-loss efforts.