If you want to slim down and lose those unwanted pounds, you need to supply your body with the fuel it needs to burn fat, preserve lean muscle, and maintain a healthy metabolism. And protein is one of the most important nutrients you can use to accomplish all three of those goals. Here's why too much protein can be a bad thing.
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Sure, protein contains the building blocks of muscle (amino acids). And because each pound of muscle you have burns an estimated 50 calories per day. And that's just at rest–without you even doing anything!
So by giving your muscles the protein they need, you're able to boost your metabolism and burn fat around the clock. Also, high-protein foods tend to be very filling. This works wonders for controlling hunger cravings.
Protein is important, but here's the truth that almost nobody is telling you: Too much of a good thing turns it into a bad thing. And protein is no different.
Studies have shown that high-protein diets (with over 50 percent of total calories coming from protein) have been linked to dangerous conditions like osteoporosis and kidney failure. This is because protein is difficult for your body to process. It's very dense and requires nutrients to break it down. And while this actually helps you to burn fat (your body has to burn energy to digest protein), eating too much of it can put a strain on your health.
That's why protein is best used as part of a healthy balanced diet–a diet that gives you ALL the nutrients you need to maintain your health and metabolism. Vitamins and minerals, fiber, the healthy fats, energy-rich complex carbohydrates–your body needs all these things to run at a high-level.
When you start excluding them and only eating protein, well, that's when when you start running into problems.
So, how do you make sure you can take advantage of protein's fat-burning power without putting your health at risk? The answer is simple: Just make sure you eat your protein as part of a balanced meal.
A chicken breast is great for you, but make sure you include some vegetables on the side to add fiber and ease digestion. If you're in a hurry in the morning and want a protein shake, that's fine, but add some berries to that shake to add some nutrients and some good carbohydrates. Eat fish to get a delicious combination of protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
By sticking to whole foods and not depriving yourself of any of these food groups, you'll automatically fall into the balance you need to maintain your health (and your waistline).
So get your protein in. Just make sure you get all the other good stuff too. Because that balanced diet is the secret to looking and feeling slim, fit and healthy well into your later years!
This post was originally published on May 20, 2013
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