Protein Cycling Diet

Protein cycling diets are a based on the idea that the body responds well to periodic bouts of deprivation. Studies in lab animals suggest that intermittent fasting can prolong life and reduce the risk of certain diseases, according to "Protein Cycling Diet: A Defense Against the Diseases of Aging." Protein cycling diets are also used in body building, as they are reported to aid muscle gain.

Natural Protein Cycling

Protein cycling is a natural physical process. According to "The Science and Practice of Nutrition Support" your body normally recycles between 200 and 300g of protein per day, and infection, trauma or burns can drastically increase that amount. This is why it is important to be aware of the amount of protein in your diet and ensure it meets your needs.

Protein Cycling Diet

The aim of the protein cycling diet, according to "Protein Cycling Diet: A Defense Against the Disease of Aging" by biochemist Ron Mignery, Ph.D., is to encourage your body to break down damaged parts of your body cells by periodically restricting protein intake. Dr. Mignery explains that "When the cells of the body are denied nutrients, they consume parts of themselves in a controlled process called autophagy. In a manner reminiscent of urban renewal, a part of the cell is fenced off and everything inside is demolished. The ruins are then salvaged to meet the ongoing needs of the cell. The lost volume of the cell is then rebuilt when the restriction ends."

Disease Fighting Claims

There are numerous degenerative diseases linked to cellular degradation, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's, according to Ron Mignery. Following a protein cycling diet forces the body to consume worn-out cellular material rather than using dietary protein, and the theory is that the body will then regenerate the cells more completely when you return to a normal level of dietary protein. According to research reported in "Cell Death and Differentiation" autophagy has the potential to delay or prevent the onset of serious illnesses linked to cell degradation.

Body-building

Protein cycling diets can be beneficial to body builders, according to trainer Jimmy Smith, because it can circumvent the need for eating massive quantities of protein. A 200-lb. body builder following a high-protein diet would normally consume 350 to 400g per day, which Smith notes is extremely difficult to maintain. However, when you follow a protein cycling plan your body produces more growth hormone during the protein-deficient stage of the diet. This elevated growth hormone production continues for up to a month after you return to a high-protein diet, which encourages rapid muscle building once dietary protein levels are restored to normal.

Protein cycling schedule

Marcus Johnson, M.D., outlines a basic protein cycling diet schedule for building muscle mass in "Protein Cycling for Maximum Gains." He recommends decreasing protein by 50 percent per week until a goal of 20 to 40g of protein per day -- versus a USDA recommended 56g per day for men, and 46g per day for women -- for four weeks. After that, increase protein to 1g per lb. of body weight, and eat this amount for four to eight weeks before beginning a restriction phase again. You can induce autophagy -- that is to say, cell breakdown -- by following more moderate diet plans, according to Ron Mignery, who suggests a one-day-per-week protein restriction diet.