For many people, weight loss is the ultimate goal. You are always striving to cut an extra pound off, or bring your body fat down 1%.
Although these are micro goals in a massive lifestyle change, many people don't understand the science behind some of the mechanisms for weight loss.
One of the largest areas of science we have today has taken a deeper look into how protein consumption is actually directly correlated with weight loss.
What is Protein?
On a fundamental level protein is a nitrogenous compound that is not readily stored by the body. We consume it from various sources - from beef to beans, and it can help repair muscle - plus it's great for the maintenance of strong bones, hair, skin, and teeth.
The most important aspect to remember is the first statement - protein is not stored by the body. Unlike its counterpart macronutrients (fat and carbohydrates) protein consumption is not stored, instead, the body uses what it needs and pushes the rest away as waste.
For this reason, a high protein diet can be very effective in weight loss.
How Does Protein Work to Induce Weight Loss?
Although the long-term science has not yet conclusively come to understand how a high protein diet can affect weight loss, many short-term studies have demonstrated that an increase in daily protein (about 1.3-1.6g/kg) has been shown to promote satiety and better metabolism.
It seems that a diet that is higher in protein can actually make you feel full - meaning you will not have the urge to continue eating, even if you haven't had the same amount of calories as you traditionally would.
Metabolic function is always an area of concern during weight loss. In theory, a faster metabolism should burn more calories and lead to faster weight loss (the basis behind fat burners) - but how does protein affect metabolic rate.
Through a process called gluconeogenesis, your body can actually turn readily available amino acids (building blocks of protein) into glucose to fuel exercise. This, in turn, means you will not need to eat as many carbohydrates and can rely on higher intakes of protein to build muscle, recover and boost metabolism.
The last aspect to consider is the thermic effect of protein. Thermogenesis is the amount of heat the body creates in order to effectively burn and break down a macronutrient and its calories. Compared to carbohydrates and fat, protein has a higher thermic effect - meaning the food you eat will take longer to burn and your body will expend more energy trying to utilize it as fuel.
When it comes to weight loss, the benefits of a diet high in protein are immense.
From the total amount of calories you burn each day, to the benefits of recovery - protein is completely essential to your success in the gym.
The best protein you can consume for weight loss is one that is low in calories and high in bioavailable amino acids. Whey protein has not only been shown to provide a great spectrum of amino acids, but they are also cheaper than meats and are much lower in calories.
For a fast-absorbing and amino acid dense protein shake look no further than Fuel X30. Find it here.
