The protein diet is known by a lot of people as a means to lose weight, but also to build muscle tissues. The diet helps you to get a satisfied feeling. Bodybuilders follow the diet, because their muscles can then after training recover faster. In short:
There are different kinds of protein diets. Well known ones are the Atkins diet, the Cambridge diet and the Dukan diet. These types of diets all have their own characteristics and their own pros and cons. Before you are following a diet, it is good to know what proteins are. Proteins are together with carbohydrates and fats the three macronutrients. These are important for your body. You only get protein into your body by means of food. Protein can be found in, amongst others, meat, fish, nuts and seeds. Our body loves protein, they are built very complex and can be used as building materials. First have a good look into which diet you want to follow. These kind of diets are not supposed to be followed for months on end. It is better to follow it for a short period, and that then you can go back to eating everything (so that you get all the different vitamins and minerals into your body). Change is good for you, but too much change is not. Make sure that you thus not change your diet too often.
Fats, carbohydrates and protein are all important for your body, but only in the right amounts. The balance needs to be good. The perfect balance of the three macronutrients is as follows:
In the west many people do not eat healthy. Ready made meals, fast food and snacks are very popular. If you have to work a long day and afterwards you do not feel like cooking, then this is the easiest way to fill your tummy. But it is not healthy and that is why it is important to have a close look at what you are and are going to be eating. The right balance is important, so that the chance that you go and eat a snack is also diminished. Many people eat in carbohydrates too large quantities and not as much of the healthy fats and proteins. Many people can be helped by recommending them that they need to eat more proteins. You are best off choosing them in a vegetable form. You can think of 0.8 grams per kilogram for an inactive person and 1,2-1,4 g/kg for an average active person and 1,3 - 2.0 g/kg for a sports fanatic.
The things you can eat with a protein diet are important to know about, you eat as little as possible carbohydrates. Whilst following a protein diet you do not eat pasta, bread and potatoes. A breakfast may consist of eggs with bacon. What you can eat with a protein diet:
Whilst following a protein diet you cannot eat the following:
The reason that many people choose for a protein diet is to lose a lot of weight in a short time. But by eating proteins you also get a good feeling (no more hunger) and the chances that you will go snacking and looking for food are thus smaller. You are less inclined to eat sweet things and you can also unlearn your snacking habits, because you are already feeling full and satisfied. More pros of the protein diet:
People that want to lose a few kilos, can start to follow a protein diet. But be careful, a strict protein diet is not suited to do for more than eight weeks. If after these eight weeks you still want to lose more weight then you can always follow a different, not so strict protein diet and this can be combined with for example a low carb diet. With this type of diet the carbohydrate take in is limited, but not completely taken out of the diet. When eliminating different food sources you always have to pay attention to a possible shortage of minerals and vitamins. This can be prevented by for instance taking a vitamin supplement and a mineral supplement. But you don't always have to do this, it depends how long you are going to follow a particular diet. Therefore the advise is also to not follow this diet for longer than eight weeks.
