High Protein Weight Loss Diets

A high protein weight loss diet is defined by the percentage of calories that come from protein. In a balanced diet that does not focus on protein, typically 10% to 15% of calories come from protein. In diets that focus on the amount of protein, this percentage can rise to as much as 30-35%.

By restricting carbohydrates a high protein diet can cause what is known as "ketosis". Ketosis is what happens when the body begins to burn its own stored fat for energy. This will cause weight loss but ketosis can also cause headaches, nausea, irritability in mood, and other problems.

However, high protein diets are very popular for a couple of reasons:

They promote relatively quick weight loss
The high amounts of protein eaten help dieters to feel full for a longer time

Unfortunately, because the weight lost during the diet is somewhat unnatural, the loss is frequently regained shortly after the diet ends.

Other drawbacks to a high protein diet are that they exclude food items such as fruits and vegetables which provide a great many required nutrients. These diets also risk high cholesterol, and heart disease.

Currently, there have been no long term studies of high chiabenefits.net protein weight loss diets so their long term heath effects are not known. If you do chose to engage in a high protein diet experts do agree that you should do so in moderation and keep a balance in your diet to ensure you get all the proper nutrients your body requires.

What follows is a brief list of foods that are higher in protein but still good for you:

Seafood, especially salmon because of its omega-3 content and marginally higher fat content
Skinless, white meat poultry. The dark meat and the skin both have high fat contents
Dairy products. Use low-fat or skim dairy to cut down on calories and still get the valuable calcium
Eggs. The least expensive source of protein
Beans. A half cup of beans has as much protein as 3 ounces of steak with much more dietary fiber
Pork Tenderloin. The "other white meat". Today's product is much leaner than it was several years ago
Beef, lean. Just a little bit more saturated fat than a chicken breast and more zinc, B12, and iron

Other sources of protein can be the meal replacement drinks, cereal bars, and energy bars. Just be sure to check the label to be certain you are going to get a minimum of six grams of protein and also has reduced sugar and fat content.

Regardless of the diet you chose to begin you must be certain that you continue to get all the nutrients that your body requires for proper operation. A good way to do that is to add a dietary supplement to your daily meal plan and the best supplement available today is chia seed.

Classified by the FDA is a whole, raw food, Mila refined chia seed is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and is the best of the cholesterol lowering foods. Chia is also rich in other minerals such as Potassium, Iron, Calcium,and Selenium.

Stop by chiabenefits.net Chia Benefits.net and learn more about this amazing supplement.