Definition of a High Protein Diet

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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A high-protein diet is a diet that consists of consuming a high amount of protein. In the past, there have been high-protein diets that required you to eat a very low amount of carbohydrates and a higher amount of fat. The recent high-protein diets require that you eat a moderate amount of carbohydrates and a low amount of fats. This is a safer, healthier and more effective diet that appears to show long-term success and results.

Features

Protein is the body's building block for bones, skin, tissue and muscles. Protein assists in the health and recovery of muscles after exercise. A high amount of protein in the diet is essential for optimum health and vitality. Consuming a high amount of protein as part of a diet has become a very popular way of losing weight and building muscle.

Process

A high-protein diet means taking in a lot of protein to support muscle tone and muscle repair for those who exercise. The protein makes you feel full for longer, reducing the need to eat extra calories due to hunger. This also supports weight loss. The high-protein diet consists of 20 percent fats, 30 percent protein and 50 percent carbohydrates. This means that those on the high-protein diet must be mindful of what they are eating throughout the day and what each meal consists of.

Types

The foods that are the highest in protein are usually meats. For the high-protein diet, white meats or lean red meats are recommended. Some red meats are extremely high in saturated fat and should be avoided on this diet. Other foods high in protein include beans, lentils and tofu. These are often used in the place of meat in a meal and offer a balanced amount of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Nuts and vegetables also contain high levels of protein and may be added to meals. Protein shakes are also a way to raise the protein level in the diet.

Benefits

The high-protein diet provides a balanced eating plan and is a lot safer than the low-carbohydrate eating plans. Since protein helps to make you feel full for longer, food cravings are reduced and the size of meals is usually reduced also. This means fewer calories and more success when it comes to weight loss.

Quantity

For those wanting to build a lot of muscle, consuming 1 g of protein per pound of body weight is recommended, but the recommended dietary intake for protein is approximately 46 g for women and 56 g for men. You can increase the intake of protein gradually over the course of a week so that your protein intake is higher than the recommended daily amount, but care should be taken to keep the diet balanced.