Don’t sacrifice your carbohydrates for a high protein diet, and think twice before “bulking up” those biceps with protein to look better at the gym. Your daily diet shouldn’t contain more than 30% protein ideally, because an excess of it will do you more harm than good.
If you increase protein without adding more calories and exercise to your daily life, instead of building muscle mass you will put your other body systems under undue stress. And eating more protein while increasing calorie intake — but keeping at the same exercise levels — builds an equal amount of additional fat and muscle. Meanwhile, a diet where protein is more than 30% of your calorie intake causes a buildup of toxic ketones. A “ketogenic” diet, or one high in ketones, pushes your kidneys to excessively flush themselves free of toxins. This can cause you to lose a significant amount of water, which puts you at serious risk of dehydration, especially if you exercise heavily during your workouts.
Such water loss will make it appear you’re losing weight, when in actuality you’re not. Plus you will be losing, not gaining, muscle mass and bone calcium from this ketogenic diet, while the stress of dehydration can also badly affect your heart. Dehydration from a ketogenic diet can make you dizzy and weak, give you bad breath, and lead to other health-related problems. This can be the result of a high-protein, low-carb “fad” diet – one that emphasizes proteins excessively.
Protein is absolutely required for your body’s normal functioning, as it helps synthesize your enzymes and hormones. It maintains your fluid balance and the building of antibodies against infections. It also is the basic building block for your muscles, bones, cartilage, skin, hair and blood. Essential for the formation of all of the cells in your body. You should eat protein-rich foods such as meat, cheese, milk, fish and eggs. Getting enough protein in your daily diet. You can also find protein in soy products. Also in combinations of food such as rice or corn with beans.
Proteins are made up of several different amino acids, some of which your body can make on its own. But some of them have to be ingested. These are called the “essential” amino acids. You must eat a variety of foods to make sure you’re getting all of your essential amino acids. Lack of these can cause growth failure, loss of muscle mass. Also decreased immune system functioning, weakening of the circulatory and respiratory systems – and even death.
Your daily diet should contain no more than 30% total calories from fats, hopefully far less than that. The upper limit of fat in your diet will depend on how many calories you need to maintain your weight. Cutting back on fat can help you consume fewer calories. But some dietary fat is needed for good health. It supplies energy and the essential fatty acids. Like the essential amino acids gained from your consumption of certain foods. Fats also promote absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.