Well, we all know that people who are obsessed with their body shape and structure try various kinds of diets and meal plans in order to make their body look more attractive. Proteins are the building blocks of muscles, which is why body builders consume a lot of high protein diet so that they can build more muscles, although this also needs to be backed by some amount of carbohydrates in the diet from which they can get their energy supply. However, there are many people who are opting to go for a high protein diet as it is known to promote rapid weight loss. This is how it works. Animal meat and products like fish, chicken, meat, eggs, cheese, etc., are the main sources of protein in our daily diet. A high protein diet consists of only proteins eliminating the other essential nutrients required by the body. Carbohydrates are considered to be the best source of energy needed by our body. Since the amount of carbohydrates consumed are less, the body is forced to use the stored fat in the body as fuel, which ultimately leads to weight loss. Though you might consider this to be relatively good, think before you act because the risks mentioned below may show you a different side of the coin altogether. Side Effects of a High Protein Diet The curiosity of the human mind has made various discoveries to find a shortcut to health and happiness. Using various techniques and experimenting with different kinds of food items to influence your body and health has been into practice since a long time, high protein diet being one of them. But then, have you ever thought that the reason why health experts focus on a complete and balanced diet all the time? Each and every nutrient plays an important role in the healthy and smooth functioning of the body. Have a look at the various risks involved in a diet which involves high amount of proteins. Cardiovascular Diseases Well, high protein diet meal plans usually consist of foods that contain high cholesterol levels and saturated fats which can prove to be extremely harmful for your health and increase the fat and cholesterol levels in the body. This can put you under the risk of suffering from various cardiovascular diseases like angina, coronary artery disease, and even heart attack. Loss of Appetite If weight loss is all that you are looking for right now, then this point may probably make you smile, however, high protein diet for weight loss can adversely affect your health in the long run. Foods rich in protein make you feel more full and satiated. This means that you would want to eat less. As it is you are absolutely avoiding other 'important' nutrients in your diet, and all these different factors can actually lead to loss of appetite which can prove to be a serious health concern. Weak Immune System I guess the previous point has made it clear as to why does high protein diet weaken the immune system. A weak immune system means that the body is more likely to suffer from many diseases as the body is deficient in nutrients. This can make your body develop certain fatal conditions like colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, digestion problems, constipation, fatigue, renal, liver and other immune system diseases. Kidney Problems Eating too much of protein in the diet can put too much of workload on your kidneys. The main function of the kidneys is to filter the waste materials of the body. Too much of strain on the kidneys and absence of other essential nutrients can actually lead to kidney damage, or even kidney failure for that matter! High Levels of Ketones Absence of glucose levels in the blood triggers the body to produce a hormone known as ketones. This is an acidic substance which is produced when fats present in the body are used as energy instead of carbohydrates. The problem is that because ketones are extremely acidic in nature, they can actually make the person suffer from health complications like bad breath, loss of body fluids, loss of liver glucose and so on. Osteoporosis Development Another consequence of focusing only on proteins and neglecting other nutrients is making your bones weak and making room for the development of osteoporosis. We all are aware of the importance of calcium in our diet to keep our bones strong. With too much of acid production resulting from protein intake, the body uses the calcium present in our body to balance the acid. Because the body isn't getting calcium from the diet, it uses calcium present in the bones to do so, eventually making the bones weak. The American Heart Association doesn't recommend to go for a completely high protein diet. In fact, experts suggest that a person should consume only 1 gram of protein per kilogram of our weight on a daily basis. If you think that a high protein diet can actually do wonders for your body and weight loss, think about the other aspects also before jumping into it. There is no shortcut to the perfect body or the perfect health. The logic is pretty simple, you need to burn more calories than you consume. It needs discipline, dedication and a balance between your diet and physical activities. So eat a high fiber, low fat, nutritious and balanced diet, exercise a lot, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and live a happy and healthy life.