High protein diets usually consist of limiting starchy carbohydrates, such as bread, rice and potatoes, and claim to change your metabolism while helping you to lose weight. Vanderbilt University explains that these types of diets aim to keep insulin levels in the body down. When insulin levels are high, foods is converted and stored as fat in a much faster process. Less carbohydrates mean less insulin and therefore the food you eat will be used for fuel rather than be stored as fat.
The Atkins Diet
Dr. Robert Atkins designed the original high protein diet in 1972, with his book, "Atkins' Diet Revolution." The updated version available today is titled, "New Atkins for a New You." Dr. Atkins worked on the premise that diets full of sugar, white flour and high fructose corn syrup were destroying people's health and waistlines. He created a high protein diet that severely limits these harmful foods, helping people lose weight and ward off diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and strokes. Through a four-phase system, participants on the Atkins diet eliminate most carbohydrates. After a strict induction phase, some carbs are reintroduced back into the system, but only on a limited basis. The type of food that is eaten on the Atkins diet includes chicken, turkey, lean beef, lean pork, salmon, Albacore tuna, halibut, whitefish, eggs, cheese, broccoli, cauliflower, greens, spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, celery, avocado and olive oil.
The South Beach Diet
Cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston, who is from South Beach, Florida, developed the South Beach Diet. This diet allows more carbohydrates than the Atkins Diet, but there is a heavy emphasis on eating protein and limiting carbohydrates in order to keep insulin levels in check. Sensational.com reports that Dr. Agatston believed this was the answer to seeing his patients suffer in their weight loss efforts using traditional low-fat, high carb eating plans. Sugar, white flour, white rice and potatoes are eliminated on the South Beach Diet plan and instead foods consumed include chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, whole-grains, brown rice, fruit and vegetables.
The Protein Power Plan
The Protein Power Plan was developed by Boulder, Colorado doctors Michael R. Eades, M.D., and Mary Dan Eades, M.D. Together they have written two New York Times best selling books, "Protein Power" and "The Protein Power LifePlan Gram Counter." Lowcarb.ca reports that this diet works on the same premise as other high protein diets, in that the point is to reduce the amount of insulin released from the body and the most efficient way to do that is to limit your intake of carbohydrates. The creators of this plan believe that people should be eating in similar ways to that of cave men, because our bodies have not significantly changed since that time. Therefore, food normally consumed on the Protein Power Plan includes meats, poultry, eggs, cheese, nuts, seeds, peaches, berries, melons and non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and bell peppers.
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