Protifast, according to Pr Blackburn’s protocol
In the series of protein diets, today we present PROTIFAST, a brand offering a wide range of protein-based products for weight loss.
Protein diets have a simple and rapid objective: to lose weight. Weight loss is estimated at 2-3 kg per week, which is actually water loss rather than fat loss.
But things aren’t quite that simple, and we’ll come back to this point in detail later.
For now, let’s take a closer look at what this product range promises consumers.
Protifast presentation and promises
As we’ve just said, Protifast offers a wide range of high-protein products: sachets (soups, desserts, breakfast, drinks, “ready-to-cook” dishes), protein bars, smoothies and snacks, as well as economy-size jars.
The sachets are high-protein with a high biological value, each containing 18g of pure assimilated protein.
The bars come in a range of flavors: chocolate, vanilla, almond, red fruit…
Smoothies packaged in 250ml bottles, with different flavors: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry/raspberry and banana.
Value jars including 500g jars for hot cocoa, cappuccino, vanilla dessert, chocolate dessert, chicken velouté, vegetable velouté, omelette fines herbes, peach/mango drink and a 400g jar for PRO-15 pure protein.
Snacks include waffles and cookies, ham and cheese, orange, red fruit, high-protein sandwich bread, coconut almond, chocolate, pizza…
Today, we’re particularly interested in Protifast economy jars, which contain 500g of dessert or drink powder.
The manufacturer recommends 2 methods of administration:
For a mousse, mix 2 scoops of Protifast powder with 120ml cold water + 1 stiff egg white.
For a shake, mix 2 doses of Protifast with 220ml of cold water.
On the website, you’ll find various tips for a successful high-protein diet. For example, depending on your body type, Protifast gives advice on how to rebalance your diet.
What are these tips and insights based on?
How does body shape reliably predict dietary imbalances?
What scientific data validate that the “tree trunk” silhouette indicates that “you eat poorly at breakfast/too much at lunch/not enough at snack/too much at dinner”?
This information has not been confirmed, and we remain cautious about its reliability.
However, the official website gives even more advice.
In particular, it describes the different phases of a properly implemented high-protein diet, with a table showing the number of sachets of Protifast to be consumed each day according to phase, as well as dietary advice.
The Protifast manufacturer
Protifast products are produced and marketed by Comptoir des Protéines, a French company founded in 1994.
Formerly known as Protidiet, the Protifast brand today has nothing to do with the products of this former brand, which are now part of the competition on the high-protein diet market.
Protifast claims to have been regularly listed in the Vidal since 2005. At the time of writing, however, our search of the Vidal has yielded no results.
Is Protifast simply not listed this year?
Does Vidal take its archives into account in search results?
Is this information reliable?
We cannot guarantee either.
Ingredients in Protifast economy jars
Each dose of Protifast provides 18g of protein. These are derived from several sources:
1. Calcium caseinate:
This is the classic casein protein, containing between 70 and 80% protein.
Casein was the first protein to be developed, through rather aggressive processes. Milk is first heated, then hydrochloric acid is added to give it a PH of 4.6.
The proteins extracted by heating are then purified and dried, before being mixed with calcium hydroxide to make the protein more soluble.
This manufacturing method tends to denature peptides, which are the amino acids that make up proteins, and hence muscle tissue.
This protein is still of decent quality, although better-quality products are available today.
2. Whey Protein Concentrate:
Also known as whey protein powder.
High in protein, rich in sulfur-containing and branched-chain amino acids, rich in glutamine and low in fat, it plays an active role in muscle building via protein synthesis.
Whey protein is reputed not only to reduce appetite, but also to increase the feeling of satiety.
This protein is highly prized in the world of bodybuilding, due to its ability to increase muscle mass and improve physical performance.
Protein diets in a nutshell
The protein or hyperprotein diet is a slimming diet that promises weight loss of 2 to 3 kg per week.
Weight loss is due to a reduction in body water, not fat loss.
The high protein content of this type of diet is achieved at the expense of low carbohydrate intake, meaning that the body is forced to draw on its low sugar reserves to maintain blood sugar levels.
This type of diet can have a very negative impact on kidney and liver function.
Because of its low-calorie nature, this diet lowers the body’s basic metabolism, making it highly likely that weight will be regained once the diet is stopped.
Another problem with this type of diet is the very limited choice of foods, which results in the body being deprived of many foods useful to its proper functioning.
Numerous studies have been carried out on the effects of the high-protein diet on the human organism.
In this context, we would like to mention a study which we found interesting.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a normal fat diet, with medium or high levels of protein, on body weight in overweight subjects, within the framework of a one-year randomized trial.
It confirms the results of a previous study which demonstrated that a high-protein/low-fat diet, adopted over a 6-month period, had more favorable effects on body weight loss than an average protein diet.
This new study will be conducted over a 24-month period.
The aim is to compare the effect of three different diets on body weight: a low-fat diet, a high-protein diet (HP) and a medium-protein diet (MP), on a population of 50 overweight or obese individuals aged between 19 and 55, with a BMI between 26 and 34.
Results are interpreted on the basis of changes in body weight, body composition and blood parameters.
After 6 months, the HP group achieved greater weight loss than the MP group (9.4kg vs. 5.9kg).
At 12 months, weight loss was not significantly greater in the HP group than in the MP group (6.2kg vs. 4.3kg), but they did have a 10% greater reduction in intra-abdominal adipose tissue.
After 24 months, both groups maintained their weight loss achieved within 12 months/.
(Source: NCBI. Department of Human Nutrition, Centre for Advanced Food Studies, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark. Due A., Toubro S., Skov AR., Astrup A. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Oct;28(10):1283-90).
Scientific studies on Protifast
The Protifast website does not mention any specific studies concerning its diet products.
However, it does state that the basis of the high-protein diet comes from the medical protocol of the protein diet developed by Professor Blackburn in 1973 in the United States.
This type of slimming diet was studied, in particular on a group of obese men.
The results showed that the high-protein diet was effective in the short term, but that only 25% of those tested were able to maintain their weight or continue to lose kilos without the medical device.
Subjects also reported side effects, such as constipation or dizziness.
(Source : Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Aug; 67(8): 789-796.)
Returning to the ingredients contained in Protifast’s economy jars, we noted two studies dealing respectively with the following two topics: “the proposed role of calcium and dairy components in weight management and metabolic health” and “the acute effects of four protein meals on insulin, glucose, appetite and energy intake in lean men”.
The first study concluded that dietary calcium appears to further promote energy loss via the formation of calcium soaps in the gastrointestinal tract, and thus slightly reduces energy absorption.
Calcium appears to be responsible for around 50% of the biological anti-obesity activity of dairy products.
This same study announces that the protective effects of dairy products against obesity and its co-morbidities are promising, and suggests the need for further large-scale studies.
The second study aimed to assess the ability of different proteins to influence satiety and reduce food intake.
The experiment compared the effects of 4 protein meals (whey, tuna, turkey and egg albumin) on postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations, energy intake and appetite in a group of 22 lean, healthy men.
After consumption of the test meal, blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the whey meal than in the turkey and egg, but higher than in the tuna meal.
Insulin was higher after the whey meal than with the turkey, egg or tuna meals. Hunger was felt less after the whey meal than after the other meals.
Energy intake was lower with whey.
In conclusion, the study announces that whey protein produces a greater insulin response, reduced appetite, and lower energy intake compared to other meals, confirming its potential for appetite suppression and weight loss in overweight or obese individuals.
Side effects and contraindications of Protifast products
The ingredients in Protifast have no adverse effects.
On the other hand, a high-protein diet is a special way of losing weight, and should not be taken lightly.
Caloric intake is drastically reduced, which can not only lead to deficiencies, but also to a slowing down of the basic metabolism, which is not conducive to weight loss.
Protifast makes no secret of this fact, and states on its website that its products should be used as part of an overall slimming program.
The manufacturer clearly states that its products cannot be consumed as the sole source of nutrition, but must be combined with traditional foods.
A strict protein diet with protein sachets or pure natural proteins requires medical supervision.
Protifast does not recommend its products for children, adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, or the elderly. Medical supervision is required in these cases.
The manufacturer also warns against the potential danger of alternating periods of weight loss and weight regain.
Testimonials from Protifast users
Those who have tried Protifast are generally satisfied with the taste of the powders on offer. The diet is easy to use and not overly restrictive.
As far as results are concerned, Protifast seems to be effective if the diet as a whole is followed properly.
However, we were unable to find any testimonials concerning the long-term maintenance of the ideal weight with Protifast.
Price and guarantee
Protifast products are available in pharmacies, para-pharmacies and on the manufacturer’s official website.
A 500g jar of Protifast protein powder (20 doses) will cost you €30.
During the active phase of the diet, you’ll consume between 4 and 6 doses a day, gradually reducing your protein intake to 2 doses a day, then none at all once you’ve reached your target weight.
In the active phase, your 500g jar at 30€ will last you around 3 days.
Protifast offers no guarantee.
Our opinion of Protifast
Overall, we don’t recommend high-protein diets for weight loss. In our view, they can lead to rapid weight loss, but without emphasizing the lifestyle changes required for lasting weight loss.
Protein and high-protein diets promise very rapid weight loss, but they are certainly hard to maintain over the long term.
Because of the consequences of deprivation, we recommend that anyone wishing to adopt this slimming cure should consult a specialist or doctor.
The risks of the yo-yo effect and dietary deficiencies are very high.
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