How Low Carbs and High Protein Can Help You Win at Weight Loss
For many years, conventional wisdom said the best diet to help you lose weight was a low-fat diet. Restrict your fats, and you’ll lose weight!
The problem is, this approach doesn’t work for long-term weight loss.
At New Life Medical, we recommend a low-carb, high-protein diet as part of our medical weight loss program. Here’s how this dietary approach, under the supervision of Dr. Nirav Naik, can help you win at weight loss.
What is a low-carb, high-protein diet?
Your body’s primary fuel source is carbohydrates. If you eat a lot of carbs, your body burns some as fuel and stores the rest as fat, which is the opposite of the result you want.
Simple carbohydrates — such as sugars and products made with white flour — are also unsatisfying because they aren’t nutrient-dense. You digest them quickly and tend to eat more of them to get full. Proteins, on the other hand, are more satisfying because it takes longer to digest them, which means you can eat until you’re full while consuming less calories.
To lose weight, the goal is for your body to burn the energy it has stored as fat rather than new carbohydrates you take in. Putting low carbs and high protein together allows your body to burn its stored fat for energy while also letting you eat enough to be satisfied.
What does a low-carb, high-protein diet look like?
Typically, you restrict your carbohydrate intake to less than 26% of your total calories. There isn’t one standard definition of high protein, but you generally aim for close to a gram of protein for every pound of your body weight — likely around 35% of your calories. Fats make up a high percentage as well.
Your higher protein consumption can lead to weight loss because research shows that it allows you to feel full more quickly and reduces your hunger and levels of ghrelin, a hunger hormone. Protein also helps you maintain muscle mass as you lose fat.
A low-carb, high-protein diet can also help regulate your blood sugar, reduce the risk of bone fractures, and even reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
The key is to be consistent in your eating plan. Examples of good proteins to eat include chicken, eggs, and fish. Carbs to avoid include bread, rice, pasta, sweets, and fruit. Healthy fats are also encouraged, including nuts, seeds, and avocados.
Expert guidance for healthy weight loss
You should also talk to Dr. Naik before embarking on this journey on your own. He can give you guidelines and tips and suggest personalized dietary modifications based on your individual medical history and food preferences.
If you’d like professional guidance implementing a low-carb, high-protein diet as part of your weight loss plan, you’re in good hands at New Life Medical. Our expert team has helped countless patients on the same journey. To get started, call our office in Bakersfield, California, to schedule an appointment.
