By Annette Karnash
It’s always a good idea to watch what you eat, and it is even more important to pay attention to the latest diet fads. The current, popular low carbohydrate, high-protein diets may result in rapid weight loss, but they may also pose serious health problems, such as possible higher risk of bone loss and kidney stones. Significant factors related to the increased risk of kidney stones are the acidic content of animal meat and the lack of alkaline foods in the diet. According to a research report at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, while individuals were on diets that severely restricted carbohydrates, acid excretion, a marker for the acid load in the blood, increased as much as 90%.
The body needs a certain source of energy and a quick source is obtained from carbohydrates, which are readily available when a normal diet pattern is consumed. When no carbohydrates are available, the body then turns to other sources to obtain energy, one of which is fat. Restricting carbohydrates leads to ketoacidosis. Ketone bodies are formed when the body is forced to burn fat for energy, which may result in ketoacidosis.
Ketoacidosis is a condition resulting from an accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood and increased blood acidity. Osteoporosis is going to be a major issue as the population ages and if people are to consume this type of diet on a long term basis, it is unknown what the implications will be for the bones. Researches are studying the effects of this protein and fat heavy diet on bones and are developing methods to counteract the higher risk of kidney stones. No one is questioning the value of this diet in the producing weight loss, but the side effects may be long term in surfacing.
