Weight management
There is growing evidence that at similar calorie intake levels, folks on a high protein diet lose the same number of pounds, maintain more muscle mass and are better able to keep their weight off in the long-term, compared with those who eat a higher proportion of carbohydrates.
But with weight loss, as with so many things in life, a level-headed, long-term approach is best.
For years, Americans were bent on high carbohydrate diets, thinking we could eat as many fat-free cookies as we wanted and still lose weight. Yet as we watched our waistlines expand, we've come to learn that those simple carbohydrates were full of calories, and not enough nutrients. We learned that not all carbs are alike. Complex carbohydrates found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are much more preferable for a healthy diet.
These days, high protein diets are increasingly popular, but not all high protein foods are alike. Some contain exceedingly high amounts of fat and saturated fat while other programs emphasize high quality, low fat protein.
The fact remains that no one way of eating suits everyone. There is a growing awareness that our genetic make-up and individual lifestyles play an important role in determining individual nutritional needs, metabolic rates and levels of susceptibility to disease. We may be finally abandoning the outmoded, one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss and dietary health in general.
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