How can a high-protein, low-carb diet lead to weight loss faster than a low-fat diet?
- First, chicken, beef, fish, beans and other high-protein foods move more slowly from the stomach to the intestine.
- Secondly, the constant effect of proteins on blood sugar avoids the sharp drops in blood sugar, which often occur after eating carbohydrates that are quickly digested, such as white bread or potatoes.
- Thirdly, the body uses more calories to digest proteins than it does to digest fats or carbohydrates.
- Consuming a diet with a higher amount of protein also appears to help maintain lean muscle mass during weight loss.
If you decide to follow a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, choose the healthiest possible sources of protein. Remember to limit red meat and avoid processed meat-based foods and choose foods that are high in protein in their place, such as fish, chicken, beans or nuts that will help your heart and health.
Research shows that a low-carb diet can help the heart:
Women who adopted diets low in carbohydrates and high in plant-based sources of fat or protein had a 30 percent lower risk of heart disease and about a 20 percent lower risk of diabetes. type 2, compared to women who followed high-carb, low-fat diets.
