Eggs & High-protein Liquid Diet

Ever since the Atkins diet debuted in the early 1970s, high-protein diets have been a hot topic in the diet world. Dieters loved the quick results, but doctors were not too impressed by the nutrition. Eventually, the liquid diet market expanded to take advantage of this trend by introducing high-protein liquid diets. Certain plans encourage dieters to add scrambled or hard boiled eggs to supplement the meal-replacement shakes and add even more protein. These diets have certainly become popular, but they are not necessarily the best choice for everyone.

High Protein Liquid Diets

Liquid diets consist of juices or shakes that are meant to replace up to three meals per day for a set period of time. High-protein formulations are meant to mimic the macronutrient ratio of a low-carbohydrate diet by taking the majority of calories from protein and fat, and fewer from carbohydrates. The liquid meal replacements are available over-the-counter, both pre-mixed and in powdered form. Depending upon the particular program, dieters may be encouraged to eat small snack bars between meals, and even eat a regular dinner. Liquid diets usually limit the dieter to about 800 calories per day.

Adding Egg

Certain liquid diet plans recommend eating eggs to supplement the meal-replacement shakes or bars, either as the allowed solid meal, or in conjunction with the replacement shakes. The purpose of the eggs is to add protein, which they do, but they also add calories, so you may have to compensate by reducing the amount of meal-replacement shakes you consume.

Advantages

A high-protein liquid diet with eggs is certainly simple, as you know exactly what you will be eating at every meal, and it is easy to prepare. Some people find the replacement shakes delicious, and you are free to prepare the eggs in your favorite manner. The diet is restrictive enough that you will lose weight, mostly from retained water. Because you won't have enough carbohydrates in your system, your body will not be able to hold onto fluid as usual, resulting in weight loss and a less "puffy" appearance.

Disadvantages

Liquid diets restrict calories too far, even if you add the egg, and high-protein diets restrict nutrient availability. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, carbohydrates should form about 65 percent of your diet. Since carbohydrates are the body's main energy source, following a diet that cuts them as drastically as possible will leave you feeling tired and sluggish. Protein, on the other hand, is supposed to form only about 10 to 15 percent of the diet. Following a diet that emphasizes protein above other nutrients could lead to kidney damage. Any water weight lost on a high-protein diet will come back as soon as you begin eating carbohydrates again.

When It's Necessary

People who have had gastric bypass surgery must follow an extremely restrictive diet while their stomach heals. The third phase of the diet begins about two weeks after leaving the hospital, and is limited to soft scrambled eggs and pureed foods. This is a special case, because a gastric bypass patient still needs to eat, but the new stomach can only hold a half-cup of food, and the new, narrower outlet into the intestine is smaller, necessitating softer foods. This is not a voluntary or "fad" diet and is performed under a doctor's supervision and for a limited amount of time.