Does a High-Protein Diet Promote Weight Loss?
Will a high-protein diet help me lose weight?
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Eat clean and get lean with our dietitians, Erin Macdonald and Tiffani Bachus. Find out when their new course, A Whole-Life Guide to Lasting Weight Loss, launches. Register now!
High-protein diets seem to be all the rage and there’s a good reason for it. People tend to lose more weight on a high-protein diet rather than a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Protein is more satiating, so your body burns more calories digesting protein than carbohydrates, and replacing carbs with protein causes the body to eliminate excess fluid, which shows up on the scale as weight loss.
See also How We Got the Fat Thing All Wrong
On the other hand, eating lots of refined carbs causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels, leading to fat storage, while protein results in more stable blood sugar. But many high-protein diets are problematic because they cut out important fibers found in whole grains and fruit, which can lead to constipation.
See alsoTop 5 Energy-Zapping Foods.
Make sure you choose good-quality proteins, such as chicken, fish, beef,eggs, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds. A balanced diet that includes protein along with good carbs, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, at every meal will make you more energetic and keep you fuller for longer. This will likely reduce your overall calorie intake for the day, resulting in weight loss.
—
Registered dietitians Tiffani Bachus and Erin Macdonald are the co-founders and creators of URockGirl.com, a website dedicated to promoting wellness and a healthy, balanced lifestyle.