High Protein and No Carb Diet
Posted by Rebecca Garcia
With the popularity of protein and low carb diets, there seems to be a thought by many people attempting diets that if carbohydrate is to be kept low, then why not cut carbs out of a diet completely.
Well, first let’s correct a few things. There is no such thing as a “no-carb diet”. In today’s modern society, it’s very difficult to not eat food that does not have carbs although there are some tribes that primarily eat seal and whales that primarily eat protein and fat but for those who eat foods that are derived from plants, these have carbohydrates. They may be low in carbohydrates but definitely not zero carbs.
Usually when people talk about no carb diets, they are typically referring to low carb diets such as the first phase (Induction) of the Atkins Diet which only last two weeks. But even with Atkins Diet or other low carb diets, they are low in carbohydrates, there are still carbohydrates in the foods you eat but by no means are they devoid of carbs.
Another diet that promotes adequate protein and a low carbohydrate diet is the ketogenic diet. This diet mimics starvation by forcing the body to burn fat than carbs. Typically the carbs are converted into blood sugar (glucose) and then delivered to the body’s cells for energy and fueling the brain. But the ketogenic diet is primarily used for those who have difficult-to-control (refractory) epilepsy. Currently research is ongoing to determine if the diet can benefit others who do not have epilepsy.
But I heard that no-carbohydrate foods exist?
A Canadian explorer named Vilhjalmur Stefansson studied an all animal-based diet and observed the Inuit, an indigenous group of people inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Russia and the United States.
The Inuits hunt whales, walruses, caribou, seals, polar bears, birds and their diet is high in protein, high in fat. This group did not eat many vegetables and fruits but depending on the season, they did collect grass, stems, berries and seaweed. But a lot of their vitamins during the Winter came from raw meat such as the liver from a ringed seal or whale skin.
Of course, Stefansson who lived with the Inuit tried to prove that it’s possible to survive on a diet with nothing but meat, meat fat and internal organs of animals. Although in 2003, a study was done to counter Stefansson’s claim and that although they get their energy from wild animals and eat a low carb diet, the Inuit have a high mortality rate due to coronary heart disease.
So, unless you are really wanting to live like the Inuit and survive on seal liver and whale meat, really, there is no way to get away from carbs.
No more eating vegetables and fruits to achieve no carbs
In any diet, vegetables and fruits are important in a diet because of the vitamins, minerals and other things that prove to be beneficial to the body. Non-starchy vegetables are low in carbs but for those to forego vegetables and fruits from their daily food intake could be putting themselves in risk.
There are diets that have a low carb diet and you can look towards the Atkins Diet or even the Protein Power diet but definitely do your research to understand the pros and cons that exist. Also, contact your physician before attempting any high protein, low carb diet.
