Best High Protein Foods for Weight Loss
High protein foods are important for building and maintaining muscle for healthy weight loss. They also help you to stay full longer.
Plus, if you're interested in the best protein sources of protein for weight loss, you probably also care about your appearance and how you'll feel while losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.
So consider the fact that your hair, nails and hormones are mostly protein.
Protein is also necessary to make enzymes. And, besides muscle, it's a very important component in your skin, bones, cartilage, blood and the building and repairing of tissue and every cell in your body.
The Best Protein Sources for Weight Loss
As you can see, high protein foods, especially the best protein foods for weight loss, are very important to you. But the problem with most high protein diets is they're also generally low-carb diets.
And just like you need the best protein for weight loss, you also need the best carbohydrates to look and feel your absolute best.
Good carbohydrates have essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, which help you to look and feel good too. But good carbs also help protect against heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
On the other hand, eating protein foods that are high in unhealthy fats increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
That's why the best protein for weight loss is so important. And for the best protein sources, you need to consider the whole protein package.
- A 6-oz porterhouse steak with 38 protein grams can has 41 fat grams (mostly unhealthy fat) and a whopping 540 calories.
- The same amount of salmon with 36 protein grams has 18 fat grams (mainly healthy omega 3 fatty acids) and 348 calories.
- While a cup of high fiber lentils with 18 protein grams has only 1 fat gram (mainly healthy fat) and comes to just 230 calories.
Here's your guide to the best protein for weight loss and optimum health.
- Seafood: Some fish, like salmon, have important omega 3 oils. Other seafood, like lobster and sole are high protein with low fat.
- Poultry: White meat turkey and chicken (without the skin) is low in fat, low in calories and one of the best protein sources. A 2-oz serving has 14 protein grams, 2 fat grams and only 70 calories.
- Dairy: Low-fat dairy, like yogurt, skim milk and cottage cheese, are good protein sources for calcium. Eggs, although high in fat, are also an excellent, complete protein when used sparingly.
- Beans: Legumes and beans are the best sources for vegetable protein. Plus they're high in fiber, which helps you to feel full longer.
- Nuts: An ounce of almonds offers 6 protein grams and healthy fatty acids. So use nuts sparingly to add protein and flavor.
- Grains: Brown rice and whole grain breads, crackers and cereals, like oatmeal, provide some protein and lots of healthy fiber.
- Meat: Although meat is a high protein food, red meat has been shown to increase the risk of inflammation and some cancers. So eat very lean meat only occasionally and avoid all processed meats.
More Commonsense Health for You:
Food Calorie Chart of Healthy Foods
Ways to Increase Metabolism Naturally
How to Eat Less, Move More & Lose Weight
List of High Protein Foods & Best Protein Sources
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Posted in: Diet & Nutrition, Weight Loss
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