Why is protein good for losing weight?

Protein holds an almost magical place in the weight loss world -- high-protein diets gained the public's attention years ago and have managed to maintain their popularity.

Research confirms that there is something uniquely hunger-quelling about protein. Don't get us wrong: fat and carbohydrates (especially certain types) help make a meal filling and satisfying. But a slew of studies show that protein's the most satiating of the three major macronutrients.

In a University of Washington/Oregon Health and Science study, people who switched from eating 15 percent of their total calories from protein to eating 30 percent of their calories from protein (and 20 percent from fat and 50 percent from carbs) spontaneously reduced their calorie intake by an average of 441 per day and lost, on average, 11 pounds, most of it body fat, in twelve weeks.

Most people that want to lose weight, really want to lose body fat. Adequate protein intake is important when losing weight because encourages your body to keep the muscle that is already has and instead use your stored fat for fuel.  If you are not eating enough protein, your body can start breaking down muscle for energy.  This will lower your metabolism and make it even more difficult to lose additional weight.  In order to coax your body into burning fat instead of muscle and to keep your metabolism elevated, it important to eat enough protein on a daily basis.  Good protein sources include eggs, chicken, beef, and fish.  Protein powder can also be a helpful supplement to your diet.

Protein is important in your diet to maintain your muscles and essential body functions. Muscle tissue actively burns calories to help you lose weight. Choose high quality protein occurring in foods naturally from lean meats, eggs, and dairy or from vegan sources such as legumes, beans, nuts, or hearty whole grains such as quinoa.