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HEALTH

2024 October 25, 26

Level: High

A High-Protein Diet

by Linda Ludwig

How much is too much?

25

News regarding nutrition and diet evolves over time, so it can be hard to keep up with. This is especially true in the area of weight loss. One thing many people who want to drop a few pounds choose is a diet high in protein, which is an essential component of a healthy diet. The word comes from the Greek word protos, which means first. Proteins, of which as many as 100,000 can be found in the typical human cell, are crucial for some of the body’s functions.

  A typical diet advises a person to get about 10 to 30 percent of their daily calories from protein, 45 to 65 percent from carbohydrates (carbs) and 25 to 35 percent from fat. However, a high-protein diet entails replacing most or all carbs with protein.

  If you decide to go on a high-protein diet, choose your protein carefully. One rule of thumb is to stay away from processed meats and eat lean beef and chicken, nuts, beans, fish and low-fat dairy products. Although some diets call for cutting out carbohydrates altogether, keep some carbs that are high in fiber and nutrients, such as whole grains, vegetables and fruit.

  There are benefits to a high-protein diet. Some types of proteins, like salmon, also provide a healthy fat. Digestion of protein requires your body to work hard, so you’ll also burn more calories when eating it.