Talking about diets and products related to specific diets, Dr. Stefano Erzegovesi, head of the Center for Eating Disorders of the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital in Milan and author of the book “Il fasting for everyone “immediately makes a clarification:” We keep in mind that the diet market in the United States alone is worth 50 billion dollars a year … behind most of the protein foods or supplements so-called slimming there is an economic issue, which conditions the market; so the first piece of advice is to tell people: save your money, because the so-called “special” foods do not have any kind of scientifically demonstrable efficacy in the long term “.
The false myth of “artificial” protein products
“Let’s talk about protein products (protein bread, protein biscuits, etc.)” – explains Dr. Erzegovesi – “our body has absolutely no need for all those proteins, on the contrary: the most accredited scientific guidelines highlight the risk of a excess, never a deficiency, of proteins in Western diets. It was once said that we need a gram of protein per kilo of ideal body weight, today we have dropped to 0.8 grams because it has been seen that an excess of protein means an excess of growth factors; this effectively means a greater risk of chronic inflammation, a reduction in longevity and an increase in chronic diseases, including cancers. It seems strong to say it, but the scientific data are clear: a high-protein animal diet is a technically carcinogenic diet. But beware of unnecessarily terrorist communications: it is the excess of animal proteins, and not the consumption of animal proteins per se, that is a risk factor. As Paracelsus said, the difference between drug and poison lies in the dose ”.
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The high-protein diet and the “rapid” effects
“The hyperprotein diet“Explains Dr. Erzegovesi” it has a rapid dietary effect because it triggers a mechanism called ketosis: our body enters a state of metabolic alert and therefore tends, trying to “burn” the reserves and eliminate toxic waste, to eliminate yes fat, but also and above all water (so you dehydrate yourself) and a little bit of it also makes you lose muscle. It will therefore be a striking weight loss (water weighs and, on the scale, the difference is seen quickly) but not ideal from the point of view of body composition. So do not be dazzled by the results of the first months and remember that a “special” product can never be better than what Mother Nature produces.
Protein and calorie foods
There are some very trendy foods, also referred to as protein ingredients in dietary recipes, peanut butter comes to mind, but perhaps it is suitable for athletes, but is it also beneficial for others? “Peanut butter” explains Dr. Erzegovesi “like all nut butters (eg 100% almond or hazelnut butter), is a highly energetic product, with an excellent protein content, but be careful, because these foods also have a high fat content. We can use them but in small quantities, as we do with walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds: for example 15 grams per day, with higher doses only in case of heavy physical activity “.
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