Why Protein is an important Macronutrient

The body uses protein to build and repair tissues, make enzymes and hormones, and produce energy, among other functions. Protein is a crucial food. Due to its ability to control hunger, boost metabolism, and protect muscle mass while losing weight, it is also crucial for fat loss.

Here are a few examples of scientifically proven benefits of protein for fat loss:

High-protein foods have been demonstrated to help decrease appetite and boost feelings of fullness, which can help people eat less and support fat loss. Protein also helps to control cravings.

Protein boosts metabolism because it has a high thermic impact, which causes the body to use more energy when digesting protein than it does when digesting fat or carbohydrates. This may support fat reduction by boosting metabolism.

When losing weight, you want to shed fat, not muscle, and protein helps to preserve muscle mass. Maintaining muscle mass during weight loss is crucial for preventing muscle loss and enhancing body composition.

Adequate protein consumption is crucial for maintaining fat loss over the long term. Protein aids fat loss maintenance. According to studies, persons who consume more protein are better able to sustain their fat loss over the long term.

Overall, protein is a crucial component for weight management and fat loss since it can help control hunger, boost metabolism, maintain muscle mass, and assist fat loss maintenance.

References:

Protein helps to regulate appetite:

Hays NP, Gwyther LK. Nutrition therapy for adults with diabetes or prediabetes. Am Fam Physician. 2013 Sep 1;88(5):307-14.

Weigle DS, Breen PA, Matthys CC, et al. A high-protein diet induces sustained reductions in appetite, ad libitum caloric intake, and body weight despite compensatory changes in diurnal plasma leptin and ghrelin concentrations. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jul;82(1):41-8.

Protein increases metabolism:

Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Lejeune MP, Nijs I, van Ooijen M, Kovacs EM. High protein intake sustains weight maintenance after body weight loss in humans. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 May;28(5):572-7.

Protein preserves muscle mass:

Pasiakos SM, McClung HL, McClung JP, Margolis LM, Andersen NE, Cloutier GJ, Yeckel CW, Rood JC, Carbone JW, Loeser RF, Evans WJ. Leucine-enriched essential amino acid supplementation during moderate steady state exercise enhances postexercise muscle protein synthesis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Mar;93(3):322-31.

Pennings B, Koopman R, Beelen M, et al. Exercising before protein intake allows for greater use of dietary protein-derived amino acids for de novo muscle protein synthesis in both young and elderly men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Nov;94(5):1454-1464.

Protein supports weight loss maintenance:

Noakes M, Foster PR, Keogh JB, Clifton PM. Comparison of isocaloric very low carbohydrate/high saturated fat and high carbohydrate/low saturated fat diets on body composition and cardiovascular risk. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2006;3:7.

Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Nieuwenhuizen A, Tome D, Soenen S, Westerterp KR. Dietary protein, weight loss, and weight maintenance. Annu Rev Nutr. 2009;29:21-41.