Being overweight is something that millions of Americans deal with each and every day, and the battle, for many, is one that is constantly up hill and never ending. Every year there is a new diet to try, or a new piece of exercise equipment to buy, and billions of dollars are spent in the effort to look and feel great. With so many different ways to lose weight, it can often be difficult trying to figure out which weight loss method will work best. The thing is, not everyone responds the same way to every weight loss program, and a lot of people try a lot of different programs, often with little success, making them feel discouraged.
There are some diet programs that do work really well for weight loss, and they don’t involve paying for a monthly service and eating special foods that come in the mail. These are diets that are based around healthy eating and making sure that you stay within a certain calorie limit. Usually, if you are trying to lose weight, you would probably want to have around 1,500 to 1,800 calories daily and if the diet is a high protein one, much of these calories should come from high protein foods.
High Protein Diets
One of the main reasons why people cheat on their diets is because they are not getting enough to eat and they are hungry. Some people can put up with this for a little while, but eventually, most people on low calorie weight loss diets falter and end up binging on treats that are not good for them, and then the diet is over. If you eat a diet that is high in protein, you will not have the problem of being hungry in between meals. High protein foods are much more filling than others and will keep you feeling fuller, as well as provide you with energy for the day. A number of low calorie protein snacks are great for dieters to enjoy between meals, which will keep them feeling filled until their next meal.
High protein diets are quite similar to low carbohydrate diets. There are some very popular diets that are based on plenty of protein and lowering the amount of carbohydrates, such as the Atkins Diet, the Zone Diet and the South Beach Diet. With most high protein diets, about 30 to 50% of the daily caloric intake comes from protein and carbohydrates are greatly reduced. The protein actually helps to burn calories and provide energy, which you will need for working out, something you must do when you are trying to lose weight.
The Dangers of Too Much Protein
Although high protein diets are perfectly safe for most people, it is possible to get too much protein in your diet, and this can be just as detrimental as not getting enough. There are a number of health conditions that can be caused by having too much protein, so it is important to make sure that there is the right balance of protein and other nutrients in your diet. Some of the problems that can arise from having too much protein in your diet include:
– High Cholesterol – There are certain foods that are linked to high cholesterol, including red meat and dairy products. These are both on high protein diets, so it is important to make sure that meats are as lean as possible and that dairy products are low or non-fat.
– Cancer – We need to have a certain amount of good carbohydrates in our diets, and when on a low carbohydrate diet, it is important to make sure that the good ones are included. These foods contain vitamins, minerals, and even antioxidants that we need to reduce the risk of developing cancer.
– Kidney Stones – Too much protein in the diet can cause people to have more calcium in their urine than normal, which can lead to kidney stones, as well as osteoporosis.
To better understand the benefits and the risks of a high protein diet, it is a good idea to discuss it with a physician or dietitian. This way, you will know which foods you need in your diet, based on your medical history and your current state of physical health, and your diet will be one that works for you and your weight loss needs.
Treat Yourself
One of the reasons why a lot of people don’t stick to their diets is that they can’t have some of their favorite treats, such as chocolate, potato chips, hamburgers, or pizza. Actually, it is alright to have some of these things once in a while, as long as it is not something that you do all the time and that you keep your portions small. If you are normally following a healthy diet that is low calorie, it is not going to hurt if you substitute some of your calories for a treat, instead of your usual diet food. For example, a lot of people pick one day a week, usually on the weekend, where they allow themselves to break away from their diets and have a treat or two. This is a great way to break the tension of dieting, while knowing that you are not blowing your diet altogether. Of course, this may not be possible for someone who is extremely obese and on a very restricted low calorie diet as ordered by a physician.
If you are looking for some tasty treats that are diet friendly, there are all kinds of protein snacks that are perfectly suitable for high protein weight loss diets. Protica offers some great treats, such as Fruitasia, Protein Candy, there is even NutriGum. Profect is another great example of a protein supplement that works for low calorie diets. Providing you with 25 grams of protein per 2.9 fluid ounce serving, it has just 100 calories. It also provides other vital vitamins such as vitamin C and the B complex vitamins. If you are interested in learning more about Profect, or any of Protica’s other products, you can find them online at www.protica.com.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for dialysis patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright