Protein Food Diets

Your body needs protein for muscle building and repair. Protein is present in each of your cells. The Dietary Fiber Food website reports that the recommended daily allowance for protein for adults is .08 grams per kilogram of body weight. People use high-protein diets to help build muscle or for weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, high-protein diets are safe if used in the short term; however, because high-protein diets are generally low-carbohydrate diets, as well, the long-term effects remain unknown as of 2010. Consult your doctor before beginning any new diet.

Protein Power Lifeplan

The Protein Power Lifeplan is a high-protein diet, designed by Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades, based on evolutionary biology. According to Dr. Michael Eades, prehistoric men were hunters and gatherers who ate only what they could kill or forage. This was mostly animal fat, protein and a few plant foods. Biologically, humans remain very similar to their ancestors, and it is unlikely that sufficient time has passed for human evolution to catch up with the way humans now eat. The Protein Power Lifeplan recommends eating a diet as close to that of your prehistoric ancestors as possible. This includes large amounts of animal proteins, some vegetables and occasional nuts and seeds. The diet plan advises against eating grains, which the Eades believe are responsible for many of the diseases of modern civilization, including diabetes and obesity.

PaNu Paleo Nutrition

Neuroradiologist Dr. Kurt G. Harris developed Paleo Nutrition, or PaNu, in response to what he calls "the abandonment of the metabolic conditions we evolved under." Taking evidence from evolutionary biology and paleoanthropology, Harris recommends returning to the evolutionary milieu from which humans evolved --- an approach similar to the Eades'. Harris' dietary guidelines include making animal fats and proteins staples of your diet, while avoiding foods that humans did not eat in pre-agricultural society. To this end, Harris recommends removing sugar, grains, seed oils and dairy products from your diet.

The Zone Diet

The Zone Diet is a plan that is moderately high in protein. Dr. Barry Sears developed the diet, and it is his contention that eating foods with the proper ratio of macronutrients will help to balance your hormones -- particularly your body's insulin. Sears sets that ratio at 40% fat, 30% carbohydrates and 30% protein at every meal. The high level of protein ensures that your body minimizes insulin production and maximizes glycogen. This change in body chemistry causes your body to begin using stored fat as its primary fuel source instead of dietary carbohydrates.