Are High Protein Diets Safe?
The need to lose excess weight has resulted in the rise of possible solutions that all claim victory in the battle against the bulge. Aside from exercise machines and fitness videos, nutritionists and fitness experts choose to tinker with the diet in an effort to find a quick weight loss solution.
One of the key answers to the problem of obesity includes high protein diets which have gained increasing popularity in the fitness world. Unknown to many people, high protein diets have been used by bodybuilders and weight lifters for a long time.
High protein diet plans usually dictate that around 30% of your daily intake of calories should come from protein. For the rest of your diet (approximately 70%), the calories should come from the other basic food nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and food sources rich in vitamins and minerals.
One of the key answers to the problem of obesity includes high protein diets which have gained increasing popularity in the fitness world. Unknown to many people, high protein diets have been used by bodybuilders and weight lifters for a long time.
High protein diet plans usually dictate that around 30% of your daily intake of calories should come from protein. For the rest of your diet (approximately 70%), the calories should come from the other basic food nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and food sources rich in vitamins and minerals.
Is it Beneficial For Weight Loss?
What makes these diets beneficial to people who want to lose weight? What is really the truth about the efficacy of high protein diets?
First, proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids. These are very important components of muscles and are essential in the build-up of additional muscles. It has been proven that the more muscles you have in your body, the more efficient it will be for your body to burn excess calories. With continued wear and tear of body muscles, proteins provide the needed nutrients for repair and promote normal muscular function.
Muscles, especially your involuntary muscles which are present in the heart and gastrointestinal tract continue to work 24/7. As your muscles continue to work, they burn calories to fuel the physiological process. With a diet high in protein, you will be assured that your muscles are healthy and are functioning at their optimum. This will eventually mean the ‘machines’ of your body are working and efficiently using the calories that are stored in your body coupled with the ones you take in from food.
The second truth about these is the ability of calories in protein to take the place of calories from other food sources. Compared to high-carbohydrate meals, high protein diets make you feel fuller for a longer period of time after your meal. Thus you tend to avoid feeling hunger pangs that can push you to eat much more than what your body needs. Since you feel fuller for a long time, yourbody’s metabolism is pushed into full throttle without slowing down as a consequence of a dip in your energy levels. What better way to continuously burn fat 24/7!
The third truth about these diets is the high amount of energy required to digest and convert protein into its simplest form which can be utilized by the body. Compared to carbohydrates or fats, protein takes up a lot more energy to be metabolized. The more protein you have consumed, the higher will be the amount of calories burned thus making it a perfect solution for losing excess weight.
First, proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids. These are very important components of muscles and are essential in the build-up of additional muscles. It has been proven that the more muscles you have in your body, the more efficient it will be for your body to burn excess calories. With continued wear and tear of body muscles, proteins provide the needed nutrients for repair and promote normal muscular function.
Muscles, especially your involuntary muscles which are present in the heart and gastrointestinal tract continue to work 24/7. As your muscles continue to work, they burn calories to fuel the physiological process. With a diet high in protein, you will be assured that your muscles are healthy and are functioning at their optimum. This will eventually mean the ‘machines’ of your body are working and efficiently using the calories that are stored in your body coupled with the ones you take in from food.
The second truth about these is the ability of calories in protein to take the place of calories from other food sources. Compared to high-carbohydrate meals, high protein diets make you feel fuller for a longer period of time after your meal. Thus you tend to avoid feeling hunger pangs that can push you to eat much more than what your body needs. Since you feel fuller for a long time, yourbody’s metabolism is pushed into full throttle without slowing down as a consequence of a dip in your energy levels. What better way to continuously burn fat 24/7!
The third truth about these diets is the high amount of energy required to digest and convert protein into its simplest form which can be utilized by the body. Compared to carbohydrates or fats, protein takes up a lot more energy to be metabolized. The more protein you have consumed, the higher will be the amount of calories burned thus making it a perfect solution for losing excess weight.
Not Suitable For People With Other Health Problems
Although these diets are effective as a weight-loss solution, it is not a diet for everybody who wants to get rid of excess weight. The diet is not suitable for people with gout, kidney or liver problems. Before embarking on a high-protein diet, it is wise to seek your doctor’s advice to ensure that you will reap favorable results.