Protein For Weight Loss
How Lean Protein Foods Can Help You Lose Weight
If you're trying to eat to lose weight, low-calorie filling foods are your best friend; in particular, lean protein sources are among the very best foods for weight loss. I'd always heard protein being
promoted as an essential for bodybuilders (which I'm not) but this nutrient
seems to be one of those well-kept weight loss secrets. I've done plenty of
research and written many articles about how lean protein foods can help you slim down,
and more importantly I've tried it myself, and yes, IT WORKS! Protein is the
most satiating nutrient, meaning it helps you feel full, so you can eat less
food and still feel satisfied and you can last longer without feeling hungry.
Here's why: protein-rich foods take more time to digest and metabolize so your
body actually burns more calories processing them, plus they take longer to
leave your stomach, so you fill up sooner and stay full longer. Now here's the
caveat: you have to choose lean protein foods (those that are high in protein but also low in calories) if
you want to lose weight. Some of the best sources of lean protein include white-meat chicken
and turkey, seafood and fish, pork tenderloin, lean cuts of beef, beans, eggs,
quinoa, tofu, low-fat cheese (including cottage cheese) and low-fat yogurt
(choose Greek yogurt - it's got way more protein than the regular kind but is
thick and creamy, so it doesn't seem low-fat).
Aim to take in between 0.5 and 1 g of protein per pound of body weight every
day and try to include lean protein foods in every meal and snack to keep you full
all day long.
Tip
Personally, I find that protein-rich meals really do fill me up for hours, especially when compared to high-fiber, low-protein meals. I think the key is combining both nutrients in every meal and snack, although if I had to pick just one, I'd definitely pick protein over fiber; your body might respond differently so try eating a few high-fiber and high-protein meals separately and see which you find more satisfying.
Learn More
- Weight Loss Diets That Won't Leave You Hungry
Lean protein foods can help you fill up, but you need to know how to cut calories if you want to lose weight. Learn how to cut calories, eat to lose weight and find an extensive list of lean protein foods and other low calorie filling foods. - Fiber For Weight Loss
Protein isn't the only nutrient that can help fill you up and keep you satisfied; fiber-rich foods are another one of the best foods for weight loss. Learn more about how fiber can help you lose weight.
Photo Credit
Thanks to avlxyz for the above photo, which is published under Creative Commons License.
