From: loszewski_im@sage.hnrc.tufts.edu
Newsgroups: misc.fitness,sci.med
Subject: Re: Amino acid diet, is it safe?
Date: 19 Aug 92 20:44:17 GMT
Followup-To: sci.med
Distribution: na
Organization: USDA HNRC at Tufts University

In article <1992Aug19.150057.6093@cbnewsj.cb.att.com>, mrb@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (m..bruncati) writes:
> Hi,
> 
> After posting this message the first time (I it safe?), I realized the
> subject line gave no clue as to the content - so I'm reposting
> in the hopes of getting some response.
> 
> I want to know what the people on the net think of this diet.
> I got it out of a book called "The Ultrafit Diet" by Joe Davis
> M.D.  He has several diets in this book one of them is for quick weight
> loss - you know like 5 or 10 lbs. so you can fit through the doors
> at McDonalds - anyway the diet consists of eating six meals a day
> and with each mean taking 7 grams of aminos acids - basically 
> 42 grams of predigested protein.  The "meals" consist of like a
> piece of fruit or some such which works out to around 700cals.
> a day.  His claim is that you won't feel hungry or lose muscle
> mass - oh you have to drink at least 64oz. of water a day (I was
> drinking close to a gallon) and
> take a multi vit and cycle off on his maintenance diet every 4
> weeks.  Oh, and no oil or sugar except what was in the fruit.
> 
> Well I started this diet and the first day I decided to double
> my intake (cause I WAS hungry) but stay with the diet - so was taking in around
> 1200 to 1400 wasn't really counting and taking 42 grams of 
> predigested protein tablets a day.  I lost about 5 lbs. [I'm 170] (I
> was also exercising but nothing heavy) and the
> six meal thing is great cause I get to eat every 3 hours.  
> 
> My question - is this hard on my kidneys? all those tablets!  
> 
> I mean this is basically
> a high protein diet but since the amino acids are predigested
> I thought that there would be no problem for the short time (maybe
> another week or two) that
> I'd be on this diet.  To be on the safe side I stopped after a week
> and thought I get some opinions from the net and maybe see a Doctor.
> I liked the diet and felt good but don't want to screw
> myself up if there is real
> danger to my health.  
> 
> I KNOW that 2lbs. a week is the max
> recommended and that if I gain it back my muscle to fat ratio will
> be screwed up but that`s the subject of another post.  Oh, do you
> think that the protein will really help maintain muscle mass on
> this low calorie diet?  any test I could take to evaluate the 
> present health of my kidneys?
> 
> So, any advice, comments, warnings? 
> Any info would be very helpful - post or email is fine.
> 
> Thanks - sorry for talking so long.
> 
> Michael

I read through this very quickly.  That is way too much amino acids to be taking
in.  If you still want to have kidneys left when your 50, I suggest you refrain
from this foolish diet.  You should rely on your low fat, high protein sources
from eggs, chicken, fish, beans, or turkey.  NOT AMINO ACIDS!  Amino acids
should be taken like a daily vitamin, not a main course to a meal.
-Rob
********************************************************************************
*                                                                              *
*Rob Loszewski                       -*|||--*****-----****--|||*-              *
*Loszewski_im@hnrc.tufts.edu                                                   *
*                                                                              *
*                   "Hasta La Vista...Baby."--Arnold Schwarzenegger            *
*                                                                              *
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Newsgroups: misc.fitness