Are you looking to lose weight the healthy way? So many people turn to crazy fad diets to shed the pounds. Not only are those diets proven to be ineffective but they can also be very dangerous to your health. Losing weight is simple: exercise regularly and eat a healthy, high protein diet. A diet high in lean and low-fat sources of protein is thought by many to be one of the most effective ways to slim down. These healthy proteins maintain lean tissue while burning fat for fuel and curbing your appetite. In short, eating a high protein diet will make working out more effective and eating healthy easy.
There are a few things every individual should know before starting to boost their protein intake. First, the recommended daily allowance for men is 56 grams per day and 46 grams per day for women. Second, the types of protein you incorporate in your diet will have a huge impact on your weight loss. You want to add lots of lean, low-fat sources of protein. Below, you will find a list of 15 foods proven to be good sources of protein, as indicated by the US Department of Agriculture. Each food will have an amount associated with it and the number of grams of protein per item to help you control how much you’re eating.
Here are 15 protein power foods for healthy living…
1. Lean Meat, Fish, Poultry
Amount: 1 Ounce = 7 Grams of Protein
Incorporating lean meats, fish and poultry (lean chicken, turkey, salmon, sole, tuna, etc.) into your daily diet will give you a huge boost of healthy protein. An average chicken breast or salmon fillet can range from 4 ounces to 8 ounces of protein, depending on the size. Many individuals turning to high protein diets significantly increase their intake of lean chicken breasts and fish because they boast so many other health benefits as well while being low in fat. Stay away from breaded or fried chicken or fish for best results.
Luckily, both chicken and fish are very versatile. You can add slices to sandwiches or tortillas, use it ground in pasta sauce and casseroles, cut up meat into a salad, add to soups and stews, and even add to omelets for added protein to get you going in the morning. I’m in the habit of cooking up a flat of 8 chicken breasts on Sunday so I can store them in the fridge and use as needed all week long.