How Protein Can Help You Lose Weight Naturally. Protein is the single most important nutrient for weight loss and a better looking body. A high protein intake boosts metabolism, reduces appetite and changes several weight- regulating hormones (1, 2, 3). Protein can help you lose weight and belly fat, and it works via several different mechanisms. This is a detailed review of the effects of protein on weight loss. Protein Changes The Levels of Several Weight Regulating Hormones. Your weight is actively regulated by your brain, particularly an area called the hypothalamus (4). In order for your brain to determine when and how much to eat, it processes multiple different types of information. High-Protein Diets and Weight Loss By Diane Welland, MS, RD High-protein diets such as the Zone, Atkins, and Sugar Busters have come and gone for decades, their popularity rising and falling like waves in the ocean. High-protein, low-carb diets are appealing to many people, especially to meat lovers who envision filling up on high-protein snacks and foods like bacon, steak, cheese, and nuts. Popular High-Protein Diets Atkins Diet Zone Diet Sugar Busters. The most popular high protein diets are 'Atkins Diet', the 'Zone Diet', and 'Sugar Busters!'. Another eating plan that has been given some exposure on Australian TV is the 'Slim Forever' diet. The inventors of these diets make. Going on a high-protein diet may help you tame your hunger, which could help you lose weight. You can try it by adding some extra protein to your meals. Give yourself a week, boosting protein gradually. 14 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources Subscribe NEXT ARTICLE NEXT Fitness Food Weight Loss Beauty Health A-Z Subscribe Body Reboot Adult ADHD Alzheimer's Disease Asthma Bipolar Disorder Birth Control. Here are 20 high-protein foods that can help you lose weight, feel great and gain muscle. Menu Topics Meal Plans Foods Members Science of Diet Contact About Subscribe 20 Delicious High-Protein Foods to Eat By Some of the most important signals to the brain are hormones that change in response to feeding (5). A higher protein intake actually increases levels of the satiety (appetite- reducing) hormones GLP- 1, peptide YY and cholecystokinin, while reducing your levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin (6, 7, 8, 9, 1. By replacing carbs and fat with protein, you reduce the hunger hormone and boost several satiety hormones. This leads to a major reduction in hunger and is the main reason protein helps you lose weight. It can make you eat fewer calories automatically. Bottom Line: Protein reduces levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, while it boosts the appetite- reducing hormones GLP- 1, peptide YY and cholecystokinin. This leads to an automatic reduction in calorie intake. Digesting and Metabolizing Protein Burns Calories. After you eat, some calories are used for the purpose of digesting and metabolizing the food. This is often termed the thermic effect of food (TEF). Although not all sources agree on the exact figures, it is clear that protein has a much higher thermic effect (2. If we go with a thermic effect of 3. Bottom Line: About 2. Protein Makes You Burn More Calories (Increases “Calories Out”)Due to the high thermic effect and several other factors, a high protein intake tends to boost metabolism. It makes you burn more calories around the clock, including during sleep (1. A high protein intake has been shown to boost metabolism and increase the amount of calories burned by about 8. This effect is particularly pronounced during overfeeding, or while eating at a caloric surplus. In one study, overfeeding with a high protein diet increased calories burned by 2. ![]() By making you burn more calories, high protein diets have a “metabolic advantage” over diets that are lower in protein. Bottom Line: A high protein intake can make you burn 8. Protein Reduces Appetite and Makes You Eat Fewer Calories. Protein can reduce hunger and appetite via several different mechanisms (1). This can lead to an automatic reduction in calorie intake. In other words, you end up eating fewer calories without having to count calories or consciously control portions. Numerous studies have shown that when people increase their protein intake, they start eating fewer calories. This works on a meal- to- meal basis, as well as a sustained day- to- day reduction in calorie intake as long as protein intake is kept high (1. In one study, protein at 3. So, high protein diets not only have a metabolic advantage – they also have an “appetite advantage,” making it much easier to cut calories compared to lower protein diets. Bottom Line: High- protein diets are highly satiating, so they lead to reduced hunger and appetite compared to lower protein diets. This makes it much easier to restrict calories on a high- protein diet. Protein Cuts Cravings and Reduces Desire for Late- Night Snacking. Cravings are the dieter’s worst enemy. They are one of the biggest reasons why people tend to fail on their diets. Another major problem is late- night snacking. Many people who have a tendency to gain weight get cravings at night, so they snack in the evening. These calories are added on top of all the calories they ate during the day. Interestingly, protein can have a powerful effect on both cravings and the desire to snack at night. This graph is from a study comparing a high- protein diet and a normal- protein diet in overweight men (2. The high- protein group is the blue bar, while the normal- protein group is the red bar. In this study, protein at 2. Breakfast may be the most important meal to load up on the protein. In one study in teenage girls, a high- protein breakfast significantly reduced cravings (2. Bottom Line: Eating more protein can lead to major reductions in cravings and the desire to snack late at night. These changes should make it much easier to stick to a healthy diet. Protein Makes You Lose Weight, Even Without Conscious Calorie Restriction. Protein works on both sides of the “calories in vs calories out” equation. It reduces calories in and boosts calories out. For this reason, it is not surprising to see that high- protein diets lead to weight loss, even without intentionally restricting calories, portions, fat or carbs (2. In one study of 1. In this study, the participants lost an average of 1. Keep in mind that they only added protein to their diet, they did not intentionally restrict anything. Although the results aren’t always this dramatic, the majority of studies do show that high- protein diets lead to significant weight loss (2. A higher protein intake is also associated with less belly fat, the harmful fat that builds up around the organs and causes disease (2. All that being said, losing weight is not the most important factor. It is keeping it off in the long- term that really counts. Many people can go on “a diet” and lose weight, but most end up gaining the weight back (2. Interestingly, a higher protein intake can also help prevent weight regain. In one study, a modest increase in protein intake (from 1. So not only can protein help you lose weight, it can also help you keep it off in the long- term (3). Bottom Line: Eating a high- protein diet can cause weight loss, even without calorie counting, portion control or carb restriction. A modest increase in protein intake can also help prevent weight regain. Protein Helps Prevent Muscle Loss and Metabolic Slowdown. Weight loss doesn’t always equal fat loss. When you lose weight, muscle mass tends to be reduced as well. However, what you really want to lose is body fat, both subcutaneous fat (under the skin) and visceral fat (around organs). Losing muscle is a side effect of weight loss that most people don’t want. Another side effect of losing weight is that the metabolic rate tends to decrease. In other words, you end up burning fewer calories than you did before you lost the weight. This is often referred to as “starvation mode,” and can amount to several hundred fewer calories burned each day (3. Eating plenty of protein can reduce muscle loss, which should help keep your metabolic rate higher as you lose body fat (3. Strength training is another major factor that can reduce muscle loss and metabolic slowdown when losing weight (3. For this reason, a high protein intake and heavy strength training are two incredibly important components of an effective fat loss plan. Not only do they help keep your metabolism high, they also make sure that what is underneath the fat actually looks good. Without protein and strength training, you may end up looking “skinny- fat” instead of fit and lean. Bottom Line: Eating plenty of protein can help prevent muscle loss when you lose weight. It can also help keep your metabolic rate high, especially when combined with heavy strength training. How Much Protein is Optimal? The DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) for protein is only 4. This amount may be enough to prevent deficiency, but it is far from optimal if you are trying to lose weight (or gain muscle). Most of the studies on protein and weight loss expressed protein intake as a percentage of calories. According to these studies, aiming for protein at 3. You can find the number of grams by multiplying your calorie intake by 0. For example, on a 2. You can also aim for a certain number based on your weight. For example, aiming for 0. It is best to spread your protein intake throughout the day by eating protein with every meal. Keep in mind that these numbers don’t need to be exact, anything in the range of 2. More details in this article: How Much Protein Should You Eat Per Day? Bottom Line: In order to lose weight, aiming for 2. How to Get More Protein in Your Diet. Increasing your protein intake is simple. Just eat more of protein- rich foods. These include: Meats: Chicken, turkey, lean beef, pork, etc. Fish: Salmon, sardines, haddock, trout, etc. Eggs: All types. Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. Legumes: Kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc. You can find a long list of healthy high- protein foods in this article. If you’re eating low- carb, then you can choose fattier cuts of meat. If you’re not on a low- carb diet then try to emphasize lean meats as much as possible. This makes it easier to keep protein high without getting too many calories. Taking a protein supplement can also be a good idea if you struggle to reach your protein goals. Whey protein powder has been shown to have numerous benefits, including increased weight loss (4. Even though eating more protein is simple when you think about it, actually integrating this into your life and nutrition plan can be difficult. I recommend that you use a calorie/nutrition tracker in the beginning. Weigh and measure everything you eat in order to make sure that you are hitting your protein targets. You don’t need to do this forever, but it is very important in the beginning until you get a good idea of what a high- protein diet looks like. Bottom Line: There are many high- protein foods you can eat to boost your protein intake. It is recommended to use a nutrition tracker in the beginning to make sure that you are getting enough. Protein is The Easiest, Simplest and Most Delicious Way to Lose Weight. When it comes to fat loss and a better looking body, protein is the king of nutrients. You don’t need to restrict anything to benefit from a higher protein intake.
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