We all know how beneficial proteins are for us. Protein is made of amino acids, which are the building blocks of your bones, muscles, and practically everything. Hence, with protein being so useful, why not have a diet totally rich in protein. Well, that’s exactly what’s trending right now: a high protein or keto diet that is satiating, fulfilling, and can help shed off some pounds. However, research shows that these claims can be too good to be true because a high dose of protein can negatively impact your heart’s health. Therefore, let’s discuss the effects of high protein intake on your heart.
What Does Research Show?
The juice of the study is that consuming a high protein diet can increase the risk of heart failure by a swooping 33 percent. This means that you won’t be only losing weight with a protein intensive diet. However, the source of protein intake also affects the rate of heart failure.
The breakdown is as follows:
Animal Protein: By animal protein, we are primarily referring to red meat like beef and pork. Consuming a high amount of animal protein can boost the risk up to 43 percent.
Dairy Protein: You ingest these proteins when you drink milk or cheese. Similarly, the risk of heart failure increases by 49 percent.
Plant Protein: Those who opted for plant Protein in their protein intensive diet were at a 17 percent risk.
Interestingly, intake of egg and fish wasn’t related to an increased risk of heart failure.
What Is The Possible Explanation Behind The Observation?
When you go for a protein intensive diet that includes red meat or dairy materials, you intake a high amount of protein, but you also intake a higher amount of fats. Hence, a keto diet means you ingest a lot of fats along with a moderate amount of protein. This extra fat intake can be troublesome as fats and cholesterol have been known to clog up blood vessels. This can lead to high blood pressure that eventually ends up with heart failure.
Secondly, a protein-rich diet is fulfilling, that is you feel full with a small serving of this diet. Thus, there is a high possibility that you don’t provide your body with all the other necessary nutrients that your heart needs to function properly.
Lastly, breaking down protein into amino acids will increase the overall acidity. This contributes to oxidative stress, which in turn adversely affects the cardiovascular system.
What Can You Do About That?
To stave off the increased risk of heart failure, you can opt for a balanced diet that’s actually beneficial. This is because we know that too much of anything will have adverse health effects. Therefore, try to visit a doctor before you take up on a new diet. Healthcare professionals will assess your physiology and guide you accordingly. Hence, we emphasize the need to refer to a doctor before taking up a new diet, especially when you have chronic heart ailments such as AFib. For any AFib related guide, you can always rely on Atrial Fibrillation Center. You can reach us at 832-478-5067 for inquiries.