Carbohydrates or Protein: Which is Best?

Too much protein can cause gout and kidney problems, kidney problems that can put a person on a dialysis machine and possibly result in surgical removal or transplant of the kidney(s). When the kidneys, or their functions, are compromised the body vicariously presses other organs, not properly suited to substitute for the kidneys, into service. Those organs become overloaded and the entire organism suffers or maybe dies. Protein is very difficult to digest. Poor or slow digestion can contribute to colon polyps, cancer and other gastrointestinal problems. The liver, which is the body's master chemist, can be stressed when dealing with high fat and particularly if the protein source contains hormones and/or other chemicals and toxins.

During the Middle Ages gout, a form of arthritis, was considered a royalty or rich man's disease. Peasants, who ate whole grains, lots of vegetables and very little meat seldom, if ever, had gout. At the time of the reign of Henry the 8th, there was a peasant who had lived for over 100 years, quite a feat at that time in England. King Henry wanted to know his secret. The peasant was brought to the castle where he lived and ate the same foods as the king for a short period of time. After two weeks he died of a bowel obstruction. Apparently King Henry never made the connection between overeating, high fat foods and disease because he was of poor health.

Short-term we may find a high protein, high fat diet instrumental for losing weight but long-term adding to our overall health problems. Certain blood and body types don't deal well with high percentages of meat and animal fat in their diet. So why did they find too many carbohydrates caused weight gain and energy loss? First, among all of those faces out there, we have to find out who we are and what works for us, not what someone else claims is our answer. Sailors, even if they had adequate supplies of water, who've been lost at sea with nothing to eat except fish (high protein) for extended periods, have suffered serious health problems for the rest of their lives.