According to the latest statistics, the obesity epidemic
continues to grow worldwide and shows no signs of stopping
anytime soon. An astonishing 59.6% of Australian and New Zealand
adults are overweight or obese, while 30% of Australian and New
Zealand children are clinically overweight. More than half of
the American population is overweight.
Those who have adequate amounts of protein in their diet,
however, may find they've escaped being part of this alarming
trend. That's because the latest nutritional research indicates
that protein has numerous dietary benefits that give a boost to
weight loss and weight management efforts. Lets look at some of
the ways you can benefit from a healthy daily protein intake.
One of the principle advantages of protein is that it creates a
feeling of fullness and satisfaction in the body that makes
overeating much less likely. Besides being filling, protein is a
smart addition to any weight loss or weight management programme
because of the effect it has on carbohydrate cravings.
As nutritional research has documented, carbohydrates trigger
the brain to crave more carbohydrates, leading to a cycle of
carbohydrate eating that becomes hard to control. Protein can
block that triggering effect in the brain. If you eat protein
with a carbohydrate it will reduce the cravings caused by eating
the carbohydrate. Simply adding protein to a meal (including
breakfast), provides you with an incredible advantage in your
quest to lose or maintain weight. But protein provides more than
just weight benefits - it provides you with an important
necessity as well. Adequate daily protein intake is essential
for building and maintaining lean muscle mass.
It may sound like a term that applies only to athletes, but in
fact, everyone has a certain percentage of lean muscle mass in
their body. The higher your percentage of lean muscle mass, the
more calories you can burn in a day.
Besides determining how many calories you burn each day, lean
muscle mass also serves a vital function for those trying to
lose or maintain their weight. If your diet does not contain
enough protein to build or maintain lean muscle mass, your body
will begin to lose weight from the heart, muscle and organs.
This type of dieting is unsafe and can prove fatal. So, how much
protein do you need every day? Women need approximately 80-100
grams daily, while men need roughly 120-150 grams.
But as you incorporate protein into your diet, remember that not
all protein is equal when it comes to calories. For example, a
serving of prime rib has 1,500 calories! That's why it is
important to source your protein from healthy, lean protein
sources such as fish, the white meat of chicken and turkey and
very lean sources of beef. If you can see the fat...cut it off
before you cook it, and don't eat it.
About the author:
Kim Beardsmore M.B.A. (H.R.M.), B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is a
Herbalife distributor, weight loss coach &creator of the online
weight loss & health magazine Weight Loss Health
http://weight-loss-health.com.au Your online Herbalife store at
http://weightlosshealth.herbalcoach.com Learn about the work at
home Herbalife business opportunity at
http://free2liv.com
