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Are High Protein Diets and Low Carb Diets the Same Thing?

By , About.com Guide

Updated September 04, 2006

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Food for High Protein Diets

Food for High Protein Diets

Malcolm Romain
Question: Are High Protein Diets and Low Carb Diets the Same Thing?
Answer: Often, people use the terms “high protein diet” and “low carbohydrate diet” interchangeably. They think of the Atkins diet as a high protein diet, for example. Most low carb diets are higher in protein than typical diets. However, technically, the emphasis in low carb diets is on reducing carbohydrates. It is possible to eat a high protein diet that has a lot of carbohydrate, or a low carb diet that has a typical amount of protein.

Most experts in low carb eating emphasize getting sufficient protein, but beyond that, there is flexibility that is up to the individual. Again, though, when people say "high protein diet", often they mean "low carbohydrate diet".

Related Article: Are You Getting Enough Protein? - What is protein? How much protein do we need? Is it possible to eat too much protein? Get your answers here.

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