A high-protein diet followed for three to four months usually is not harmful if you are in good health, reports the Mayo Clinic. Restricting carbs and fat is one way to lose weight quickly, but also carries health risks if you eliminate the other important nutrients completely from your weekly meal plans. Before starting a restricted diet, you should talk to your doctor to make sure it won't interfere with any other medical treatment you may be undergoing.
Go Lean
Many high-protein diets recommend meals loaded with red meat, which can add unwanted fat and cholesterol to your system that leads to heart disease and clogged arteries. Instead, opt for lean meat and poultry at every meal. Include baked chicken with the skin removed for lunch or dinner. Salmon and other fish high in protein can be served cold over a big green salad or as a main dish for your supper. Trim the fat off lean cuts of beef before cooking. Look for leaner breakfast meats as well, such as turkey sausage or Canadian bacon.
Low Fat
Dairy products high in protein can also be loaded with fat. If you're not careful, you could sabotage any weight loss efforts by relying on whole milk and cheese for your meal choices. Using skim milk on your high-protein cereal in the morning gives you just as much protein as a cup of whole milk. Look for low-fat and fat-free yogurt when making your afternoon protein shakes. If you can't abide by the taste of fat-free cheese, choose white cheese instead for fewer fat calories. Mozzarella, Parmesan and Swiss cheeses are naturally lower in fat and high in protein.
Soy
According to Medline Plus, soybeans are the only plant food that contains complete proteins, meaning you don't have to combine them with a carbohydrate to get the full serving of amino acids necessary for muscle development and energy. Fill your weekly menu planning with soy products, which are widely available in most grocery stores to cater to a growing vegetarian population. Try soy sausage or bacon at breakfast. Make soy burgers for lunch that you eat with soy chips. Substitute soymilk for your beverage or in your protein shakes and check out soy dessert products to add some diversity in your weekly meal planning.
Balance
To remain healthy and prevent side effects such as ketosis and constipation from a lack of carbohydrates, you must balance your high-protein diet choices with some level of healthy carbs. Most high-protein diets call for foods with a low glycemic index to maintain healthy blood sugar levels that keep you satiated. The most effective low-glycemic carbohydrate choices, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, include grapes and apples. Whole-wheat products you should consider adding to your weekly menus include whole-wheat spaghetti and brown rice.
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