High-protein diets are emerging as the latest buzz in weight control. That’s because emerging research has hinted that protein may be able to satisfy hunger better than either fats or carbohydrates. This kind of weight loss program requires you to consume high protein, low carb foods. This program claims that carbohydrates make us fat and reducing its consumption leads to fat loss.

The higher-protein diets help people better control their appetites and calorie intake. It is believed that a high protein diet, low in carbohydrates helps burn more calories when the body converted protein to glucose, a process known as gluconeogenesis. A relatively high-protein diet improves body composition, enhances weight loss, and improves glucose and insulin homeostasis.

Pros & Cons For This Weight Loss Program

This weight loss diet usually leads to quite a rapid weight loss initially but isn’t very effective in the long run. Also, this kind of diet leads to a steadying of blood sugar levels which is healthy.

The weight loss is fast and mainly during the initial stages on a high protein diet, however the loss is caused by a net loss of body fluids. Protein and carbohydrates both help hold water in cells, during the high protein diet there is a net loss of protein and carbohydrate stores are virtually emptied.  When lost from the body these nutrients draw water and thus extra weight from the body but fat stores are hardly changed.

A study has revealed people on high protein diets actually ended up consuming less calories. Protein seems to act like an appetite suppressant thus hunger pangs are easily controlled. High protein dieters no longer seem to binge between meals.

A relatively high-protein diet improves body composition, enhances weight loss, and improves glucose and insulin homeostasis.

If you want to be healthy on a high protein diet, you must choose healthy sources of protein. What are the best sources? The best sources of protein are:

• spirulina – a superfood with outstanding protein content. Ounce for ounce, it offers twelve times more digestible protein than beef!

• organic whey protein – a fantastic source of digestible protein, but you have to make sure it comes from organic cow’s milk and contains no hormones or pesticides. A good product for whey protein is Jay Robb’s whey protein.

• quinoa – the grain of the Incas, quinoa can replace wheat or rice in your cooking while offering a complete protein (something no other grain offers)

• fish – fresh fish like salmon, orange roughy, shrimp and calamari are outstanding sources of low-fat protein. However, some harvesting methods (especially for shrimp) cause environmental damage. Furthermore, many fish from the sea are contaminated with high levels of mercury, making them a poor choice for daily consumption.