When it comes to the trio of protein, fat and carbs, most people tend to focus on the last two. They are demonized, championed, reviled – you name it. But in this mess, protein is usually forgotten, or lumped into a category where it doesn’t belong. Protein is vital, especially if it is the right kind of protein. In fact, the right kind of protein can actually aid you in your weight loss efforts.
Body builders are probably the ones that are best informed about protein. They eat it in large amounts, especially after exercising and they know the value that it brings to their efforts to build muscles. What the average dieter may not know is that protein not only builds up lean muscle mass, but by doing so, it can help increase your metabolism. When you couple that with a plan for exercise and healthy eating, you are setting yourself up for success.
The key is finding the right kind of protein. The majority of Americans get their protein from red meat sources – and these are the same foods that contain a high amount of cholesterol. However, there are many other sources of protein that are quite good for you, and in fact, some of these can even help you prevent disease. When you are looking for the right kind of protein to eat, it is important to focus on these sources, especially the ones that are rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
These proteins are found in fish, lean chicken and even in soy. Consult with your doctor or a qualified nutritionist to see what types of protein you can safely eat and learn more about the different varieties that are available. You can easily start adding these foods in to your diet slowly. For example, you can eat salmon once a week, or try having tuna fish (canned in water only) for lunch instead of a hamburger.
The more you begin to replace bad foods with high quality protein, the more effective your weight loss efforts will be. Protein is especially helpful as a mid-day snack, and can provide the fuel you need to get through a tough day and make it until dinner. Low fat cottage cheese is a wonderful source of quality protein, and you can also find good proteins in soy nuts, and other fun snack food.
Try to stay away from pre-packaged protein bars, unless you carefully read the label. Many of these bars are laden with fat and carbohydrates and even though they may claim to be healthy, you may be stepping backwards instead of forwards in your weight loss efforts by eating them.
The right balance of protein will help you build up lean muscle mass, especially if you are exercising regularly. Try adding a few of these protein sources to your diet this week and see how much better you feel. Chances are, you’ll want to keep going and your body will definitely thank you.
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Originally posted 2008-11-27 05:28:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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3 comments ↓
Hi
I disagree with some of the things you say here (which is OK
). So I thought I’d share it with you and the blog readers:
- You seem to imply that dietary cholesterol is bad. I disagree with that, and challenge anybody to find research papers that link dietary cholesterol with blood cholesterol without accidentally finding many times more articles that state that there is no relationship. (Wow, it seems I’m in the challenging mood today
). I have eaten two eggs per day most of my live and I’m a meat eater and my cholesterol is plain low.
You’ll probably like to know about the existence of “The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics” (www.thincs.org)
- Also you talk about using soy as a protein source. I personally run away from soy and treat it just like sugar (meaning that I consider it an unhealthy food and that I don’t put it anywhere near my mouth).
- But, I agree with you about avoiding processed food. I think that some times we spend more time arguing about protein/fat/carbs ratios and forget that even more important than that is to avoid processed foods and drinks like the pest.
- And, most importantly, I agree with the main point of your post. We gotta eat protein for muscle growth and weight loss.
Remember Chad Waterbury cite:
“The problem with diet advice is that there’s really nothing new to say. We coaches know what works, and there’s only so many ways we can dress up that pig long enough to hold your attention. I mean, come on, how many different ways can you tell someone to cut carbs, eat more vegetables, and add more protein?”
Great post. I’ve tried some protein bars in the past and although they gave me energy, I’d usually end up crashing from the sugar. Beans are a good source of protein also. Especially for vegetarians who might not be in the know of protein substitutes for meat.
One more thing about protein and weight loss: you burn more calories digesting protein than fats or carbs.
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