Safe Weight Loss and Protein
Safe weight loss and protein go hand in hand. Proteins are essential to safe weight loss and good health. Proteins provide all of the critical fat-burning components needed in order for safe weight loss to occur. Lacking protein, the body becomes fatigued prematurely. As a result, the most common tendency for people today is to grab for high sugar alternatives to boost energy levels and consequent weight gain occurs, not weight loss. Protein ranks second behind water as the largest contributor of body weight including muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs, glands, nails and hair.
Protein provides energy and allows the body to manufacture hormones, antibodies, enzymes and tissue. Proteins are broken down by the body into amino acids then carried via the portal vein to the liver which, in turn, passes the amino acids to the bloodstream which carries them to tissue.
Protein assists in safe weight loss by stimulating the pancreas to produce glucagons, a hormone that releases stored fat from cells for energy. The glucagon benefit can be negated though if excess insulin levels abound. Protein also strengthens the immune system. A meal high in protein can raise a metabolic rate by 30% compared to a 4% rise with a carbohydrate diet.
Proteins can be complete and incomplete. A complete protein contains all of your essential amino acids. An essential amino acid cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained through consumption. Amino acids include histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan an valine.
A complete protein is found in fish, meats, seafood, poultry, eggs and cheese which also contain high levels of B vitamins. Interestingly, soybean products are incomplete proteins because they lack methionine. It’s fine to incorporate soy in your safe weight loss diet plan but you should consider supplementing it with another food that contains methionine.
Incomplete proteins contain some but not all of your essential amino acids. An incomplete protein is grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and some leafy vegetables. Unfortunately, peanut butter and other nut butters like almond and cashew are incomplete proteins and are just components to a safe weight loss regimen. However, all is not lost. By properly combining your foods over the course of 24 hours, the body can assimilate incomplete proteins to complete proteins. For example, legumes such as pinto beans, navy beans, black beans and lentils can be combined with brown rice, corn, nuts, seeds or wheat. Or, brown rice can be combined with legumes, nuts seeds, or wheat. All is not lost. As you can see, protein not only helps you to lose weight but to also nourish your body.
Proteins are not only good diet drugs but also essential components to healthy living.
