Protein power
Many of us have heard the myth that you can lose weight by cutting calories or skipping meals. While it can help to manage your calorie intake by reducing meals to moderate portion sizes, it isn’t wise to skip meals or deprive your body of nutrition when you’re hungry. Doing this can have the opposite effect in slowing your metabolism and lead to weight gain*. In fact, the trick to weight loss could sit with one special nutrient – protein. And don’t worry, upping your protein doesn’t need to mean you look like a bodybuilder! A diet high in protein is important for muscle mass and overall health – but it can also lead to weight loss by boosting your metabolism and reducing appetite^. How, you ask … ?
Protein is the most filling ‘macronutrient’> (aka. nutrients the body needs in larger quantities to give you energy). Eating protein keeps you feeling fuller for longer with less food versus how satiated you feel after eating fats and carbs. This is because when you eat protein, it reduces the hunger hormone ‘ghrelin’, which can result in eating fewer calories because it takes you longer to feel hungry again. Protein is also believed to increase the number of calories burned through digestion, which boosts our metabolism^. When incorporated safely and in moderation into a balanced diet, protein can be a vital part of weight loss.
- Opt for high-protein meal-replacement shakes
- Swap some of your carb and fat intake for lean protein (e.g. swap your mashed potato for grilled fish)
- Opt for high-protein snacks like tuna, a boiled egg or handful of nuts when you’re peckish
- Try plant-based proteins, such as tofu, oats, chickpeas, lentils, quinoa and broccoli
Losing weight isn’t always easy, but we are here to support you in your weight loss goals. Speak to your TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacist today about how we can help support you in improving your health and reaching a healthy weight, or visit www.terrywhitechemmart.com.au/weight
Source
*: https://www.piedmont.org/living-better/what-happens-to-the-body-when-you-skip-meals
^: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-protein-can-help-you-lose-weight
#: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-to-eat-more-protein
>: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/15-incredibly-filling-foods
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