How Whey Protein Helps in Your Weight Loss Program

ByDerek Fletcher

Research into using whey protein for weight loss indicates that protein influences the feeling of fullness. This reduces the temptation to snack in between meals.

Whey is a by-product obtained during the cheese making process. It is a liquid containing protein, lactose, minerals, and a small amount of fat.

Before processing, whey has a relatively low protein content. But by efficient filtering most of the lactose and fat are removed. The next stage is to spray-dry the filtered whey, which yields a powder rich in protein. The powdered protein is a convenient way to use whey protein for weight loss.

There are three main types of whey supplements available:

Whey ConcentrateWhey IsolateWhey Hydrolyze

Each type undergoes a different processing procedure. And the more complicated the processing, the more expensive the powder.

The concentrate is the cheapest type with the lowest percentage of protein content, but with the highest amounts of fat and lactose.

By using better quality filtration more fat and lactose can be removed from the liquid whey, resulting in a powder with a higher protein content. This better quality protein powder is known as whey isolate. The isolate is more expensive.

But blends of concentrate and isolate powders are available, which have an improved protein content compared with the cheaper whey concentrate. These blends are cheaper than the pure whey isolate powder, but have a lower protein content.

The hydrolyze, which is a pre-digested form of whey protein, is the most expensive because it needs more processing.

Hormones and Hunger Signals

Hunger and the amount you are able to eat before feeling full are controlled by hormones, psychological factors and physiological needs. Secretion of the hormone cholecystokinin in the intestine is stimulated, when partly digested fat or protein enters the part of the small intestine closest to the stomach. This hormone stimulates receptors distributed throughout the central nervous system, resulting in a feeling of fullness. Because of its high protein content, a whey supplement is able to delay the desire for food through the actions of cholecystokinin on the nervous system. This stops the craving for snacks and drinks rich in sugar, but lacking in nutrients, which sabotages any attempts to lose weight.

Whey Protein and Insulin

Experiments show that not only do animals fed on whey protein lose weight because of its appetite satisfying qualities, but their insulin sensitivity increases, producing healthy blood sugar levels.

Whey Protein and Exercise

Effective weight loss programs combine dieting and exercise. To some, the thought of exercising may seem daunting. But even simple tasks such as walking the dog, or digging the garden, all burn calories.

The more strenuous activities such running, cycling and weight training, benefit even more from the use of whey protein, because of its muscle-building properties. Supplementing a balanced diet with whey powder, combined with an appropriate exercise program, creates a lean body with a healthy muscular development.

Before starting a vigorous exercise program, please consult your doctor.

Can Whey Protein Put You in a Better Mood?

There is evidence that whey protein may help you become less anxious and stressed by raising your level of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter. By helping you to feel in a better mood and more relaxed, it removes the urge to comfort-eat. This is another benefit of using whey protein for weight loss. With comfort-eating the more you eat, the more weight you gain, and the more depressed you get; so the urge to comfort-eat is reinforced.

If You are Lactose Intolerant or Allergic to Dairy Products

If you are lactose intolerant or have experienced an allergic reaction after eating a dairy product, please consult your doctor before using a whey supplement.

Whey Protein Powder Makes an Excellent Weight Loss Supplement

And finally to summarize the above information, which indicates the suitability of using whey protein for weight loss.

Because of its high protein, low-fat and sugar content, and its ability to induce the feeling of fullness, a whey protein supplement can help you lose weight. It needs to be used with a balanced diet, plus a reasonable amount of exercise. Exercise burns calories and builds muscle. Muscle building is enhanced by a protein supplement, and as muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, it promotes further weight loss.

Derek Fletcher is a writer who specializes in weight loss programs. You can see his latest website at Whey Protein and Weight Loss, where he provides information on how whey protein powder is manufactured, and how it helps you lose weight.

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Increase Your Metabolism and Lose Weight by Adjusting Your Carbs, Protein and Fats

The concept of thermal effects of food and thermogenesis can play a large role in increasing metabolism when the emphasis is placed on making better food selections.

Our chief nutrients are found in three groups: fats, proteins or carbohydrates. They are called macro nutrients because they are our source of calories and energy. Metabolism is the way our cells, organs and tissues in our bodies treat these foodstuffs. Macro means big, and these foods are required in huge amounts to keep up our development, metabolism, and other bodily processes. Our organic structure demands other nutrients, too, including vitamins and minerals. However, these nutrients are required in more modest measures and are named micro nutrients. In this context "micro" means a very small amount. While decisive for our body micro nutrients don't supply people with energy or calories.

Protein Increases Metabolism

Protein is the principal element of our organs, muscular tissue, all our living cells, and is present in all body liquids. Proteins are amino acids stitched together in chains. Twenty amino acids are needed and all must be present in sufficient quantities in order for body processes to function. Nine of the 20 amino acids are termed essential because they cannot be produced by the body; and must come from food sources.

Proteins that contain all 20 amino acids are called complete proteins, and they are found in animal sources: meat (poultry, fish and other meats) and dairy (eggs and milk products). Proteins that come from plant sources are considered incomplete because they do not contain all 20 amino acids, though you can combine different plant sources to obtain all of them. Proteins come in different forms and can be found in plants just as much as in animal products.

Fat: The Good, Bad and the Ugly

Fat, like protein, is necessary part of building body organs and cells, and it a helps in the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. And just as there are essential amino acids, there are essential fatty acids which must come from food sources. The secret is to consume as much of the unsaturated "good" fats and avoid as much as possible the highly saturated "bad fats."

Carbohydrates are chains of small, simple sugars that are a major source of energy. When consumed in the body, they are broken down in the stomach by various enzymes and absorbed as sugar or glucose into the blood circulation. When carbs are eaten in excess, some of them are stored for future use in the liver as glycogen, the rest are turned into fat. This process explains why everyone wakes up in the morning, often after 15 hours of no eating and the blood sugar is not zero.

Carbohydrates come in two forms: simple sugars like glucose, fructose, lactose and sucrose which are small molecules and are quickly absorbed by the stomach and raise blood sugar. Other carbs are larger molecules and take longer to process. The latter group includes starch, and cellulose. They are found in vegetables and unrefined whole grains.

Think you will lose weight using brown sugar instead of white, or avoiding the high fructose corn syrup for real sugar? Think again. Over the last year sugar research has revealed that all sugars: white, brown, raw and even high fructose corn syrup are the same 15 calories per teaspoon. No sugar is really "natural" and that high fructose corn syrup once thought "toxic" is not so bad. Thinking has swung around.

The real issue is the difference between all the sugars and the artificial sweeteners. That's where the obesity epidemic needs to be focused. Artificial Sweeteners Are Safe

Sugar has been taking a real beating in the past several months. Jane E. Brody a science writer for the New York Times (February 10, 2009) discusses some of the newest information on the role of sugar and weight gain. She points out that all sugars contain a combination of glucose and fructose, all are processed and all have exactly the same calories. If you understand the process, you will see how little difference there is.

How Thermogenesis of Food Can Be Used to Increase Metabolism

Proteins: 30% thermic: When it comes to thermogenesis, protein foods are the most significant. What does that mean? When you eat a 300 calorie chicken breast, it may take up to 90 calories to break it down, digest and absorb it. In reality, the 300-calorie chicken breast can end up being only 210 calories. Not bad, "you get your chicken and eat it too." Trying to achieve at least 0.8 grams of protein per lb. body weight provides a lot of support for your metabolism.

Carbohydrates are roughly 10-12 % thermic and fat is only 3% thermic. The marked difference between fat and protein should be noted. Why fat has so little thermic effect is unknown, most researchers think it is do to the very slow gastric emptying time and slow absorption of fats.

How Long Does This Increase Thermogenesis Last?

Most research studies indicates that metabolism begins to return to normal about 3 hours after the ingestion of the food.

Increasing Metabolism Means Eating More Protein.

Nearly every recent study reveals that eating plenty of protein can increase your metabolism, causing you to burn an extra 150 to 200 calories a day, says Jeff Hampl, Ph.D., R.D., a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. "Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for your body to break down

Vegetarian Protein Versus Animal Protein For Successful Weight Loss

It is essential to have high quality vegetarian protein sources in your diet if you want to lose weight.

The Low Carb High Protein Diet has been around for as long as I can remember. The reason why weight loss coaches promote the low carb high protein diet, is because protein is used for building muscle. A high protein diet can ensure that while you are losing weight, you are losing fat and not muscle.

Despite common misconceptions about vegetarian diets, it is possible to use vegetarian protein sources for most of your protein needs. Animal protein is not necessarily the best source of protein compared to vegetarian protein sources.

One important reason why animal protein may be less effective towards successful weight loss over a long period of time, is because animal protein is devoid of enzymes and therefore needs to draw from your body's own stores in order for it to be digested.

Long term high animal protein diets can lead to enzyme deficiencies. Enzymes are essential for proper processing utilizing and eliminating food. Without sufficient enzymes the food is not broken down efficiently and gets stored as fat. Enzymes are essential to weight loss

Protein is essential for healthy weight loss for various reasons.

Protein is helpful to reduce appetite. This is why high Protein Diets are often most successful. Protein also has no sugar and does not metabolize into sugar as carbohydrates do.

Protein has a stimulating effect on the metabolism as it takes three times the amount of energy to metabolize protein as it does to metabolize fats and carbohydrates.

Most people therefore find protein to be more satisfying. Eating protein at every meal can reduce cravings for extra snacks.

Protein also helps you to lose weight because it takes 3 times the amount of energy to metabolize protein as it does to metabolize fats and carbohydrates, this has a very stimulating effect on the metabolism.

Eating protein at mealtimes reduces cravings for extra snacks as it helps people to feel more satiated.

As most diet programs include exercise as part of the plan, protein can be very important to assist in repairing muscle, and maintaining lean muscle mass. Protein protects against muscle being broken down from lots of exercise, and fewer calories.

It is essential though to get quality protein from the right sources in your diet. Vegetarian protein is superior to animal proteins, as they can be problematic in many ways.

The byproducts of animal protein metabolism are considered toxic to the human body, as levels of uric acid and urea rise in the blood. The body than desperately tries to eliminate this uric acid and urea, by pumping lots of water into the kidneys and urinary tract to help it flush out. In order to neutralize these destructive acids in the blood, calcium and essential minerals are pulled from the bones and then used to assist in flushing these excess acids out of the blood. A diet high in animal protein often leads to severe Loss of essential minerals and calcium resulting in osteoporosis.

Raising livestock is an energy drain on the planet. We are also depleting ocean life by overfishing our oceans. If you think having fish from fish farms is the solution you are very wrong, those fish are highly toxic, grown in dirty waters and fed food that is unnatural for fish to eat.

In order to get the amount of eggs needed to sustain the industry the chickens are tortured into little cages their whole life and forced to produce eggs constantly. Eggs from not organic farms are coming from tortured, underfed chickens. And organic eggs are often very expensive.

It is not that difficult to get high quality vegetarian protein today. Vegetarian protein powders derived from rice or hemp are excellent sources of vegetarian protein for weight loss.

These vegetarian protein sources are still in a raw state with live enzymes which are so essential for digestion and weight loss.

Concentrated vegetarian proteins are a great way to help you lose weight as they are nourishing, satisfying, and full of vitamins, minerals and live enzymes.

For more information on high quality vegetarian protein sources go to http://detoxingdietinfo.com/home/?p

Top Sources of Protein For Vegetarians Wanting To Lose Weight

An important nutrient that you must have in your diet when trying to reduce weight is protein. You may find that most of the foods you consume are low in protein, if your on a vegetarian diet.

For anyone looking to reduce weight, you need to make sure that you have enough protein in your diet. Protein is important for just about any diet and should help provide you with the results you are in search of, because it helps to increase your metabolism and stop lean muscle mass loss.

If you are following a vegetarian diet you'll want to consume some essential meals that contain a large quantity of protein. Here are some top sources of protein for those who are on a vegetarian diet.

Quinoa

Quinoa is a superb source of protein, making it a recommended food for just about any vegetarian. An alternative to brown rice is quinoa, in fact it is actually more superior. This food goes perfect with beans, salad or in a stir-fry and will help you to achieve the effects you would like to experience from your diet plan.

Tofu

When you consider a vegetarian diet, you will no doubt consider tofu. There is usually a misconception that tofu is just not very nice, it does however come down to the way you cook it. If it is prepared properly it will taste nice and you definitely ought to consider adding it to your vegetarian diet.

Tempeh

Due to its high degree of protein, a preferred food for just about any vegetarian diet is tempeh. Not only will it help with your diet, tempeh also helps with your general health since it lowers your cholesterol levels.

Soy Beans

Soy beans are a recommended food to be added into your diet, as they can be cooked in several ways and help increase your protein intake. They are a very good food to add to any vegetarian meal, although men shouldn't eat them too often as they do impact testosterone levels. You will be able to boost your protein intake, by only having a few servings each week.

Nuts

Nuts are essential for just about any vegetarian diet, because they contain a high amount of nutrients. Your diet needs a variety of different nutrients such as protein, fiber and healthy fats, nuts contain all three of these. Nuts are perfect for your diet as they are also fairly low in carbohydrates.

The author also has a website that has lots of information on Exclusive Health products and Supplements.

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Protein Can Help You Win The Battle Against Belly Fat

A balanced diet is an essential part of your journey to lose belly fat. If you are having trouble dropping belly fat, not eating enough protein could be the underlying reason. Protein makes the body build muscle and adequate muscle mass helps enhance your metabolism for fat loss.

Proteins are categorized as either incomplete or complete. Complete proteins have all the amino acids that are used for cellular metabolism, for tissue repair and for synthetic functions. Proteins are important parts of various hormones, enzymes and help in energy production as well. Complete protein comes from animal sources such as cheese, eggs and meat. Incomplete proteins are missing essential amino acids and come from nuts, grains, fruits and vegetables. It's very important for vegetarians to eat a wide variety of proteins. This will help to insure they are getting an adequate amount of protein. This step is a must if you want to lose belly fat effectively.

To assist in your belly fat fight, think of trying some protein powder. The Harvard School of Public Health, recently discovered that the minimum daily requirement for protein is 7 grams for every 20 pounds of body weight. However, if you are lifting weights or actively participating in exercise, you will need more. In this case, amounts of 1 gram per pound of lean body weight may be necessary. Consuming protein produces a modest amount of insulin, but also creates a hormone called Glucagon, which has a counteractive action. Glucagon stimulates the body to lose belly fat by burning it for yield of energy; it also decreases the body's production of harmful lipids and cholesterol and stimulates the kidney to excrete excess salt and fluid. It also maintains your blood sugar level by counteracts the effect of insulin.

Eating foods rich in Leucine (an amino acid) has been shown to help reduce fat and particularly belly fat, while helping to retain muscle. Having 20 to 30% calories come from lean, low-fat protein sources is adequate for most people. One of the easiest ways to get plenty of Leucine, and no added fat, is to choose high quality whey protein. The most authentic processes used in producing these proteins use a technology that leaves all the protein molecules intact. In this process, lactose, cholesterol and saturated fats are removed. This process renders a food rich in Leucine and therefore excellent for metabolic enhancement and weight management. To lose belly fat you need to be proactive in what you eat.

It is important to get a medical consultation before you opt for high protein diet. There are various medical conditions in which you must not take high protein as that may put undue stress over the kidneys. It is important to intake adequate amount of water to get your system regularly flushed. Fighting hazardous belly fat requires an intelligent plan for living. I've said it before, but it bears repeating: When, What and How Much. You have to keep track of when you eat, what you eat and how much you eat. Scheduling and monitoring is vital to lose belly fat. Taking in adequate amounts of protein in order to boost your metabolism is recommended in such settings. In addition, getting with sufficient exercise, sound sleep, maintaining a good mood, and spending time with good friends, will help you to lose belly fat soon.

Chuck Constant is an actor and writer living in Hollywood, CA; the de facto Fitness Capitol of the world. As a life-long hater of going to the gym, he has sought out a way to lose belly fat and achieve and maintain a healthy body without doing so. Unfortunately, he is forced to admit; there probably is no such way!

If you'd like to read more of his articles, please visit http://www.bellyfatandweightloss.com

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