Basic Pursuits

In the process of switching from a high calorie, crappy diet to a low calorie, healthful diet, your best friend may be high quality protein. Why? Because eating lots of protein makes you less hungry.

I've noticed in my own experience and I've observed the high quantity of protein in diet foods like Jenny Craig. Then there's the Atkins diet that I've observed so many lose weight on.

But I've never been quit sure why. Now comes a new study that maybe doesn't answer the "why" question totally, but affirms that the phenomenon is true. Here's a possible explanation:

It is known that when people eat low carbohydrate diets, within a relatively short time their body has to switch from using glucose as a fuel to using something different called ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are appetite-suppressing and they may have an effect on the appetite centres in the brain. It’s also well known that protein itself is very good at making people feel full-up.

The study pointed out that subjects who had the highest intake of protein and the lowest intake of carbohydrates lost more weight. That group got just five percent of its calories from carbohydrates. The other group, getting 30 percent of its calories from carbohydrates, lost about 2/3rds of the weight.

Be that as it may, the 30% group had a healthier balance and a diet that is much more likely to be a life diet rather than a weight loss diet. The 30 percenters have a chance of a balanced diet with lots of fruit and veggies. Since our goal is not to go on a diet, but to change eating habits from unhealthy to healthy, I'd opt for the 30% carb group even thought they lost weight slower.

Most Effective Weight Loss Diet Revealed, According To New Study

Powered by ScribeFire.