Special Report: High-Protein Diet
An NBC 30 Special Report
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- It's become a breakfast ritual for Mark Finocchiaro -- a bacon, egg and cheese omelet at Lottie's Diner, every morning.

Mark has been following a high-protein, high-fat regimen for the past three months. He's lost about 30 lbs.

Even reports about potential health risks, like heart problems and reduced kidney function, have not deterred him.

"I know it's bad for me, but the good outweighs the bad," Mark said.

But researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have uncovered another serious diet danger.

"What we found is people who have high protein intake and fat intake have increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma," said Dr. Tongzhang Zhen.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a killer collection of different white blood cell cancers. Doctors are reporting a huge surge in the number of cases. It's been as mystery as to why.

Dr. Zhen studied 600 Connecticut women with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 700 without cancer.

He found the women who ate a high-protein diet had a 70-percent increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"On the other hand, if people have a low intake of dietary fiber, they also have a risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," Zhen said.

Zhen said that by eating more fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, you can lower the risk of the disease by 40 to 50 percent.

Zhen's research supports earlier findings. Researchers are still studying why the increased risk occurs, but animal studies reveal some clues. For example, over-nutrition from animal protein could cause immune disturbances.

Healthy immune function depends on proper nutrition. Zhen worries that any diet that radically eliminates certain nutrients of food groups will disturb our body's ability to repair things, and put us at greater risk.

"People don't take the time to really understand and learn how that particular diet is supposed to and has been designed to work," said Albert Petrunti of Avon.

The Petruntis have been Atkins advocates for years. Michelle Petrunti has lost 93 pounds. Albert lost 25 pounds.

They even based their business, IngenHealth, around the popular diet. But both make sure that they eat the healthier fats, the mono-unsaturated kind. They also eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Zhen said that balance is the key. A balanced diet is what's need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and lower the risk of disease.

http://www.nbc30.com/nbc30/3251398/detail.html