Benefits Of A High-Protein Diet

America is certainly no stranger to diets and health trends, having seen countless fad diets of all varieties over the years. Many of us have either tried them for ourselves or know somebody who has. And let’s face it, most of the results attained from these diets don’t last. Why you might ask? Well, because the rules are often too rigid for real life.

It’s all about getting back to basics: the best sources of protein, healthy carbs, and healthy fats. The high-protein lifestyle is accessible to everyone and oh-so-simple. Here’s a no-bones-about-it look at utilizing high protein to lose weight and feel great.

What Is a High-Protein Diet?

Through her research, Kaley Todd, MS, RDN, discovered according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, protein in the average person's diet should be ten to thirty-five percent of their total daily calories. This ends up being about forty-six grams per day for women over thirteen, and fifty-six grams per day for men over eighteen. This means anything over thirty-five percent of daily recommended calories from protein can be considered a high-protein diet.

Additionally, according to Todd’s article High-Protein Diets & Weight Loss, Connie Diekman, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD, FADA, classifies any diet with more protein than carbohydrates as a high-protein diet.

Continue reading to learn about how high-protein diets can help individuals lose weight.

High Protein To Lose Weight

So how is a high-protein diet supposed to help shed pounds? The idea is high-protein foods make the body labor harder during the digestion process, with more work equating to more calories burned. Most have heard the phrase 'muscle burns fat.' Turns out this saying might hold some weight (the good kind, that is).

Todd says high-protein diets can be more effective for preserving muscle mass and preventing metabolic slowdown during weight loss. In fact, some research has shown high-protein diets are effective for weight loss in more than fifty percent of the population! Another theory behind protein’s inherent ability to help us slim down is its ability to keep us full longer, decreasing hunger. Although additional research is required to fully understand the concept of eating protein to lose weight, any Google search will litter your screen with long, lean people who have done just that.

Continue reading to discover more benefits of a high-protein diet.