High Protein Diets: Loss of Weight or Loss of Life?

Several high protein diets have become popular fads for weight loss. But are they actually good for you? A recent study says they’re not. . . .

The study was recently presented at the American Heart Association’s 2016 Scientific Sessions. The huge study included 103,878 women between the ages of 50and 79. The study looked at the relationship between protein intake and heart failure. To ensure accuracy, the researchers relied not only on self-reported dietary records but also confirmed them by measuring biomarkers of protein intake, like urinary nitrogen.

They found that the women who ate higher amounts of protein had significantly higher risk of heart failure compared to women who ate less protein or who got their protein from plant foods. The women who ate the most animal protein had a massive 61% higher risk of heart failure than the women who ate the least. The benefit of less protein and plant protein over more protein or animal protein even held up when the women had risk factors for heart failure, like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes.

The author of the study said that “Higher calibrated total dietary protein intake appears to be associated with substantially increased heart failure risk while vegetable protein intake appears to be protective . . . .” He added that “There is a significant increase in the risk of heart failure when you increase animal protein in the diet.”

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For more on healthy, vegetarian eating that is healthy for you and the planet, see Linda’s newest book, The All-New Vegetarian Passport: a comprehensive health book and cookbook all in one.