Managing our weight can often be an uphill battle, and for many, a nearly impossible one.
They try all of the fad diets, and if they do experience any weight loss, they often put that weight back on and then some within a short period of time.
A popular diet that actually seems to work is a combination of eating sensibly and using protein supplements, either combined with meals or as meal replacements.
Protein supplements provide the protein that is needed for muscle growth and recovery, and they also provide added energy, which can be put to good use when burning off calories.
Many of the most popular diet plans today, including the Atkins diet, promote a diet that is high in protein (30 -50% of the total daily caloric intake from protein) and low in carbohydrates.
It works like this: when carbohydrates are reduced, our bodies metabolic state changes to one called ketosis, causing the body to burn fat for fuel.
When you are on this type of diet, you will notice weight loss without feeling hungry.
If you have decided to go on a high protein diet for weight loss, or any other diet, you should consult your physician to make sure that this is the right kind of diet for you.
You also want to make sure that the diet is well-balanced.
Many high protein diets do not allow for enough fruits and vegetables, which are necessary for maintaining good health.
What is Protein, and Why Do Our Bodies Need It? Protein is basically a chain of amino acids and it is a macronutrient that our bodies need.
Protein promotes muscle growth and maintenance as well as muscle recovery following workouts.
Protein is also a dietary source of energy and is necessary in order to maintain a healthy body.
Even our hair and nails are made from protein.
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, protein is defined as: any of various naturally occurring extremely complex substances that consist of amino-acid residues joined by peptide bonds, contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, usually sulfur, and occasionally other elements (as phosphorus or iron), and include many essential biological compounds (as enzymes, hormones, or antibodies) Also: the total nitrogenous material in plant or animal substances.
There are two types of protein: complete and incomplete.
Complete Proteins - Complete proteins are those that contain all eight essential amino acids (chemical compounds that are made up of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon) and all 14 non-essential amino acids.
Incomplete Proteins - These are proteins that contain some of the essential and non-essential amino acids, but not all.
When eaten in combination in a healthy, well-balanced diet, the body can get all of the protein it needs.
Essential Amino Acids - These are the amino acids that the body needs but cannot manufacture itself.
For this reason, we must rely on our diets, either through food or protein supplements, to provide these amino acids.
The eight essential amino acids are leucine, methionine, valine, isoleucine, lysine, phenyalanine, threonine and tryptophan.
Non-Essential Amino Acids - These required amino acids are ones that the body can manufacture, and they are just as important for the body as the essential amino acids.
The 14 non-essential amino acids are apartic acid, cystine, glutamine, alanine, asparagines, glycene, histidine, l-arginine, cysteine, taurine, serine, proline, threonine and glutathione.
Types of Protein Supplements Used for Weight Loss Depending on the type of diet that you are using, you may want to try a variety of protein supplements until you find the one that best suits your particular dietary needs.
For instance, if you are lactose intolerant, you should avoid protein supplements that are milk-based.
If you are a vegetarian, you should stick with soy- or rice-based protein supplements.
Protein supplements come in many forms and are made from a wide variety of healthy ingredients, including whey, casein, soy and rice.
Whey Protein: Whey is a liquid that is left over following the cheese-making process.
In addition to being high in protein, whey also contains lactose and many vitamins and minerals.
Whey is quickly digested and its effects are noticed soon after taking.
Dried whey is whey powder, and this is used to add protein to a number of dishes and drinks.
Because whey protein is a milk derivative, people with milk allergies and those who are lactose intolerant should opt for a different type of supplement, such as soy or rice.
Whey has all of the essential and non-essential amino acids and is considered to be a complete protein.
Casein Protein: This is another protein that is a milk derivative.
In fact, casein is what whey comes from in the first place.
Casein is slower to digest than whey, taking about seven hours, and its effects last longer as well.
Often, whey and casein proteins are used in combination so that dieters can get the fullest and best effects from both types of protein supplements.
Casein is a milk protein and not a milk sugar, so people who are lactose intolerant are able to easily digest it.
People who are allergic to milk and milk products should avoid casein.
Rice Protein: This is a great protein supplement choice for vegetarians, people with allergies (rice protein is hypoallergenic) and those who are lactose intolerant.
This is the ideal option for dieters because not only is it high in protein, it is low in fat, carbohydrates and calories as well and is gluten-free.
Rice protein is an incomplete protein.
Supplements made with rice protein are great to use in many recipes because they are basically flavorless.
Soy Protein: This is another terrific protein for vegetarians.
A complete protein, soy protein is also good for the lactose intolerant and those who suffer from food allergies.
This type of protein contains no saturated fats or cholesterol, and when used by women, it can lower the risk of breast cancer.
Soy will not cause spikes in blood glucose levels because it is low on the glycemic index.
Some people find that soy causes them to experience digestive problems.
If this occurs, switch to a different type of protein supplement.
They try all of the fad diets, and if they do experience any weight loss, they often put that weight back on and then some within a short period of time.
A popular diet that actually seems to work is a combination of eating sensibly and using protein supplements, either combined with meals or as meal replacements.
Protein supplements provide the protein that is needed for muscle growth and recovery, and they also provide added energy, which can be put to good use when burning off calories.
Many of the most popular diet plans today, including the Atkins diet, promote a diet that is high in protein (30 -50% of the total daily caloric intake from protein) and low in carbohydrates.
It works like this: when carbohydrates are reduced, our bodies metabolic state changes to one called ketosis, causing the body to burn fat for fuel.
When you are on this type of diet, you will notice weight loss without feeling hungry.
If you have decided to go on a high protein diet for weight loss, or any other diet, you should consult your physician to make sure that this is the right kind of diet for you.
You also want to make sure that the diet is well-balanced.
Many high protein diets do not allow for enough fruits and vegetables, which are necessary for maintaining good health.
What is Protein, and Why Do Our Bodies Need It? Protein is basically a chain of amino acids and it is a macronutrient that our bodies need.
Protein promotes muscle growth and maintenance as well as muscle recovery following workouts.
Protein is also a dietary source of energy and is necessary in order to maintain a healthy body.
Even our hair and nails are made from protein.
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, protein is defined as: any of various naturally occurring extremely complex substances that consist of amino-acid residues joined by peptide bonds, contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, usually sulfur, and occasionally other elements (as phosphorus or iron), and include many essential biological compounds (as enzymes, hormones, or antibodies) Also: the total nitrogenous material in plant or animal substances.
There are two types of protein: complete and incomplete.
Complete Proteins - Complete proteins are those that contain all eight essential amino acids (chemical compounds that are made up of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon) and all 14 non-essential amino acids.
Incomplete Proteins - These are proteins that contain some of the essential and non-essential amino acids, but not all.
When eaten in combination in a healthy, well-balanced diet, the body can get all of the protein it needs.
Essential Amino Acids - These are the amino acids that the body needs but cannot manufacture itself.
For this reason, we must rely on our diets, either through food or protein supplements, to provide these amino acids.
The eight essential amino acids are leucine, methionine, valine, isoleucine, lysine, phenyalanine, threonine and tryptophan.
Non-Essential Amino Acids - These required amino acids are ones that the body can manufacture, and they are just as important for the body as the essential amino acids.
The 14 non-essential amino acids are apartic acid, cystine, glutamine, alanine, asparagines, glycene, histidine, l-arginine, cysteine, taurine, serine, proline, threonine and glutathione.
Types of Protein Supplements Used for Weight Loss Depending on the type of diet that you are using, you may want to try a variety of protein supplements until you find the one that best suits your particular dietary needs.
For instance, if you are lactose intolerant, you should avoid protein supplements that are milk-based.
If you are a vegetarian, you should stick with soy- or rice-based protein supplements.
Protein supplements come in many forms and are made from a wide variety of healthy ingredients, including whey, casein, soy and rice.
Whey Protein: Whey is a liquid that is left over following the cheese-making process.
In addition to being high in protein, whey also contains lactose and many vitamins and minerals.
Whey is quickly digested and its effects are noticed soon after taking.
Dried whey is whey powder, and this is used to add protein to a number of dishes and drinks.
Because whey protein is a milk derivative, people with milk allergies and those who are lactose intolerant should opt for a different type of supplement, such as soy or rice.
Whey has all of the essential and non-essential amino acids and is considered to be a complete protein.
Casein Protein: This is another protein that is a milk derivative.
In fact, casein is what whey comes from in the first place.
Casein is slower to digest than whey, taking about seven hours, and its effects last longer as well.
Often, whey and casein proteins are used in combination so that dieters can get the fullest and best effects from both types of protein supplements.
Casein is a milk protein and not a milk sugar, so people who are lactose intolerant are able to easily digest it.
People who are allergic to milk and milk products should avoid casein.
Rice Protein: This is a great protein supplement choice for vegetarians, people with allergies (rice protein is hypoallergenic) and those who are lactose intolerant.
This is the ideal option for dieters because not only is it high in protein, it is low in fat, carbohydrates and calories as well and is gluten-free.
Rice protein is an incomplete protein.
Supplements made with rice protein are great to use in many recipes because they are basically flavorless.
Soy Protein: This is another terrific protein for vegetarians.
A complete protein, soy protein is also good for the lactose intolerant and those who suffer from food allergies.
This type of protein contains no saturated fats or cholesterol, and when used by women, it can lower the risk of breast cancer.
Soy will not cause spikes in blood glucose levels because it is low on the glycemic index.
Some people find that soy causes them to experience digestive problems.
If this occurs, switch to a different type of protein supplement.