[Jimbee (OP)]

I've wondered this for some time now. Carbohydrates, like sugars and starches, lead to weight gain. Your body can also get energy from protein, but protein doesn't lead to weight gain.

But what about fats and oils? The Atkins diet has you eat fats and oils, because the theory goes, they don't make you gain any weight. Or do they just make you gain less weight?

I know the Atkins diet leads to something called ketosis, if you follow it closely. But I'm not sure what ketosis is, or if fats and oils just lead to less weight gain, or any weight gain at all.

[Bored chemist]

This
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid_metabolism#Fatty_acid_catabolism
is the answer to this
How Does Your Body Burn Fats And Oils?

The effectiveness of the Atkins diet is questionable.

[paul cotter]

If one's calorie intake, regardless of source(protein, carbs or fats), exceeds one's needs then weight gain will occur. Similarly if intake is less than required weight loss is inevitable. I too think the Atkins diet is dubious and may in fact be unhealthy.

[Petrochemicals]

That atkins diet is supposedly supposed do with the need of carbohydrate to metabolism energy into body fat. Protein is quite difficult for the body to breakdown into energy, excess protein is known to be excreted via the kidneys in the urine.

[paul cotter]

Protein is easily metabolised and the waste from this, urea is excreted by the kidneys. Proteinuria, protein in the urine, is a pathological state that occurs in nephrotic syndrome and is not normal.

[Petrochemicals]

Ketosis is also a diet

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet

[Petrochemicals]

Protein is easily metabolised and the waste from this, urea is excreted by the kidneys. Proteinuria, protein in the urine, is a pathological state that occurs in nephrotic syndrome and is not normal.

Why then Paul can you survive (neglecting essential biologically necesarry nutrients) on an energy basis by consuming carbohydrates or fat, but if you consume protein it will poison you? Maybe even alcohol could sustain you for energy, but I think the poisons produced would kill you too eventually.

[Bored chemist]

Occasionally, as with a stopped clock, PC gets something right.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_toxicity#Epidemiology

There's also a condition  referred to as "rabbit starvation" (rabbit meat is very lean).


On the other hand, he's sometimes laughably wrong.

Ketosis is also a diet

[Bored chemist]

protein doesn't lead to weight gain.

It certainly can contribute to it.

[alancalverd]

Inuit, Saami, and other arctic hunters and herders, seem to have survived for thousands of years on a diet consisting almost entirely of proteins and fats, with plenty of outdoor exercise.

[paul cotter]

When I glanced at #7 first where BC likens me(PC) to a stopped clock I was going to demand a dawn duel(each armed with a weapon of choice, maybe a spectrometer for BC and a spectrum analyser for me?). Reading a bit further I realised it was not me at all who he was referring to. Anyway back to the question. I don't think a purely protein diet would be advisable but I doubt it would be toxic to a healthy individual with intact kidneys. I glanced quickly at the "protein toxicity" article and the problems with a high protein intake seemed to be associated with pre-existing health problems. As Alan has pointed out some races eat a very high proportion of protein without a problem.

[Petrochemicals]

As Alan has pointed out some races eat a very high proportion of protein without a problem.

High proportion < only