High meat diet for weight loss: yes or no?

Eating a lot of meat to lose weight may increase the risk of kidney stones in some cases.

Recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers presented the case of a person with kidney stones to discuss best nutritional practices. They discussed the possible long-term risks of fad diets, specifically the carnivore diet, which lacks scientific evidence and may contribute to metabolic imbalances that increase the risk of kidney stones.

The carnivorous diet can lead to short-term weight loss, which is promoted by many social media platforms. However, clinical studies of urine show that following a carnivorous diet increases many risk factors for kidney stone formation, including increased levels of calcium, uric acid, and oxalate, and decreased levels of protective citrate. These findings highlight the importance of following a diet based on scientific evidence rather than relying on word of mouth or social media trends.

In this case, to prevent kidney stones, researchers recommend that patients reduce their sodium intake by avoiding processed soups and meats, and replacing salt with herbs. Reducing sodium is especially important because high sodium intake promotes calcium excretion, increasing the risk of calcium stones.

Reduce non-dairy animal protein, especially red meat, while increasing fruits and vegetables (such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, and bananas). These foods provide essential citrate that helps prevent calcium stone formation. Increased dairy consumption can bind oxalate in the digestive tract, reducing oxalate absorption and reducing the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation.

However, there is a lack of long-term research on the effects of a carnivorous diet on kidney health, highlighting the need for further research. The study also recommends that doctors and dietitians actively educate patients about the risks of extreme diets and encourage balanced, sustainable nutrition for weight loss and kidney stone prevention.

Eating a lot of meat to lose weight can increase the risk of kidney stones in some cases. This is mainly related to a diet high in animal protein and its effects on the body. Here are some reasons why eating a lot of meat can lead to kidney stones:

Increased uric acid levels : A diet high in meat, especially red meat and meats rich in purines (such as beef, lamb, liver) can increase uric acid levels in the body. If uric acid levels are too high, it can precipitate and form urate crystals, causing kidney stones.

Increased calcium in urine : A high-protein diet can increase the amount of calcium in the urine, which can contribute to the formation of calcium oxalate stones. Calcium stones are the most common type of kidney stones.

Dehydration : Eating a lot of meat can cause your body to become more dehydrated, because the digestion of protein requires a lot of water to process. Dehydration can increase the concentration of urine, which can lead to the formation of kidney stones.

Increased body acidity : A diet high in meat can increase body acidity, creating a favorable environment for kidney stone formation.

Chronic constipation: Although meat also provides many necessary nutrients, its shortcoming is that it does not contain fiber. Therefore, when you eat too much meat, you will easily suffer from chronic constipation. Not only that, problems such as hemorrhoids, acne, menstrual cramps, etc. are also at higher risk.

Can cause lethargy, lack of working spirit: the first harmful effect of eating too much meat is that it can easily cause drowsiness. When you consume too much hard-to-digest protein in meat, the mechanism of glucose metabolism to provide energy for the brain also slows down. Therefore, you may fall into a state of lack of concentration, lethargy, forgetfulness...

Affects the health of skin and hair: consuming too much meat in each meal makes you feel full faster and eat less other foods, especially vegetables and fruits that are necessary to provide vitamins and fiber for the body. In particular, the vitamin C content is not much in meat. A diet lacking in vitamin C can easily cause hair, skin, nails and joints to lack the lubricant collagen.

To reduce your risk of developing kidney stones, eat a balanced diet that includes moderate amounts of protein, plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plenty of water. If you are on a weight-loss diet that includes a lot of meat, consult your doctor or dietitian to make sure you are maintaining a healthy diet and minimizing your health risks.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/che-do-an-nhieu-thit-de-giam-can-nen-hay-khong.html