If you’re trying to lose weight, you’ve probably been told that protein is your best friend. But do you really need to be chugging protein shakes all day to reach your goals? Well, let’s look at the science: protein has a higher thermic effect than carbs and fat, meaning that your body burns more calories digesting it. Plus, protein helps keep you feeling fuller longer so you’re less likely to overeat. Here are 5 reasons why protein is the king of weight loss macros.
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Protein Helps Boost Metabolism
A high protein diet has been shown to boost metabolism by up to 80-100 calories per day! That means that if you’re eating a 2000 calorie diet, you could burn an extra 160-200 calories just by upping your protein intake. Over the course of a year, that adds up to weight loss of 16-20 pounds!
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Protein Requires More Energy to Digest
Protein requires more energy to digest than carbs or fat, which means that your body burns more calories processing it. In fact, it’s been shown that 25% of the calories from protein are burned during digestion, compared to only 6-8% for carbs and 0-3% for fat. That makes protein a great way to increase the number of calories you’re burning without having to do any extra exercise!
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Protein Increases Satiety
Protein is the most filling macro, which means that it’s more likely to keep you feeling satisfied after eating. In one study, people who ate a high protein diet felt fuller and ate fewer overall calories than those who ate a lower protein diet. So if you’re trying to lose weight, make sure you’re getting enough protein at each meal!
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Protein Helps Preserve Muscle Mass
When you lose weight, you want to make sure that as much of the weight lost is coming from fat, not muscle. Muscle mass is key for maintaining a high metabolism, so you want to preserve as much as possible when losing weight. Fortunately, protein can help with this! A high protein diet has been shown to help preserve muscle mass while losing weight. So if you want to lose fat and not muscle, make sure you’re getting plenty of protein!
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Protein Can Help Reduce Cravings
Research has shown that increasing protein intake can help reduce cravings and promote weight loss. One study found that people who ate a high protein diet craved unhealthy snacks less often than those who ate a lower protein diet. So if you’re trying to lose weight and kick your junk food habit, try protein shakes or other supplements make sure you’re getting enough protein!
If you’re trying to lose weight, protein is king! Protein boosts metabolism, requires more energy to digest, increases satiety, helps preserve muscle mass, and can help reduce cravings. Make sure you’re getting enough protein at each meal (or supplement with protein shakes like Truvy shakes! 😉) and you’ll be well on your way to successful weight loss.
