High Protein Diet Plan
Posted by Richard Gonzales
With so many diets available, it can get pretty confusing of which one might be right for you. Among the popular diets right now is the high protein diet plan because not only is it good to lose fat but also for those who want to increase muscle, get big or lose weight. There are a variety of factors but it has been proven effective for many years.
Protein is necessary for the body as it helps build muscles and it also is important for those who have muscle injuries as it helps repair any problems that people may have. But how can it be affective for those trying to lose weight or fat when many who eat a lot of protein are in it for getting big or gain muscle mass? Well, the fact is that a high protein diet plan includes foods with low carbohydrates and low saturated fat. Two components in weight loss.
High Protein Foods
Examples of high protein foods are chicken, turkey, lean meats and beef, seafood and egg whites. The goal for many people is to eat 1 gram to each pound you weight. So, if you weight 150 pounds, you want to eat 150 grams of protein. So, for those who are not big eaters of protein foods, some people go for protein shakes which can contain up to 30 grams of protein. Also, there are protein supplements which include bars also available.
It is very important that those who are going for a high protein diet too pretty much eat after waking up, before you go after bed and right after a major workout. The goal is to have protein in your body throughout the day, so some people may want to consider having a meal ever three hours.
Example of a High Protein Meal
An example of a high protein meal is:
BREAKFAST:
1 egg (whites), fish, chicken
2 cups of non-carbohydrate beverage (tea or coffee), creamers are allowed if not powdered.
MID-MORNING SNACK:
Protein bar
LUNCH:
Chef’s salad (vegetables to your liking)
Low car b dressing
Include seafood, chicken breast or strips of lean steak for protein
2 cups of water or non-calorie liquids
MID-AFTERNOON SNACK
Protein bar
DINNER:
Seafood, chicken or steak
2 cups of water, tea or non-calorie steak
No late snacks. If not full after your mid-afternoon snack, no need for dinner.
Pros and Cons
Many athletes believe in high protein diets especially if the are individuals that endure in high training workouts such as weightlifting, swimming, running, etc. Especially if they may be prone to injuries and protein helps repair the body.
But the American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a warning on the dangers of high protein diets and how it can lead to a risk of having cardiovascular disease. In a recent study, the AHA has found that a high protein diet such as Protein Power has the highest fat content and high fat can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetic kidney disease and can also be bad for your bones. With high protein diets, it restricts the use of fruits, vegetables and whole grains which many diets recommend.
So, this is a high protein diet. Of course, before participating in any diet, please make sure you contact your physician and/or dietitian, especially if you have been diagnosed with a condition, so you can be monitored.
