About High Protein Diets and Heart Disease

High-protein diets are often touted as simple and delicious ways to drop pounds quickly. Unfortunately, as with so many other restrictive diets, a high-protein lifestyle poses major risks, especially for your heart. In fact, the American Heart Association has officially stated that it does not recommend high-protein diets for weight loss.

Fiber

Dietary fiber plays a vital role in preventing a number of serious health conditions including heart disease. Regular consumption of soluble fiber can reduce cholesterol levels and insoluble fiber can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and slow the progression of the disease among people who are at an increased risk. Unfortunately, some of the best sources of fiber, such as whole wheat bread and pasta, beans, vegetables and fruits, are forbidden or restricted in high-protein diets because they are usually high in carbohydrates.

Fat

High-protein diets usually encourage large and regular portions of high-fat protein sources--particularly fatty meats, cheeses, butter and eggs. Saturated fat is found mostly in animal-based foods, the very type of protein sources that are the staples of these diets. Saturated fat is a major contributor to high levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. High LDL cholesterol can lead to coronary heart disease and heart attacks when plaque buildup in the arteries decreases blood flow to the heart.

Sodium

High blood pressure is another contributor to heart problems that can develop on high-protein diets. High levels of sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure in certain people or worsen the condition when it's already present. Many high-protein foods, like processed meats and cheeses, are also high in sodium. When you eat these foods every day, you may find yourself with dangerous levels of sodium in your body.

Vitamins and Minerals

Without daily servings of fresh vegetables and fruits, two food types that are often lacking on high-protein diets, the body is robbed of countless vitamins and minerals that it needs to keep the heart healthy. In particular, low levels of potassium, magnesium, and calcium can lead to high blood pressure, further exacerbating the problem caused by high sodium intake.

AHA Recommendations

The American Heart Association recommends that less than 25 percent to 35 percent of your daily calories come from fat, with less than 7 coming from saturated fat. These can be difficult guidelines to follow on a high-protein diet and should be considered a sign that many of these diets carry serious heart health risks.