High Protein Low Carb Foods
Looking for high protein low carb foods to add to your shopping list? Check out these expert-approved ideas
Keen to add some more high protein low carb foods to your diet? To help you decide if its the right move for you, we spoke to three nutrition experts to get their take on this way of eating and find out their favorite high protein low carb foods.
If youre focused on giving your lifestyle a healthy overview, tweaking your diet might be your next move. Perhaps youve taken up running , or maybe you are slowing things down and learning how to meditate.
Whatever positive changes youve made, weve found good habits have a way of gathering momentum so is now the right time to add more high protein low carb foods to your diet? Lets find out
Caroline Hind mBANT CNHC is a registered Nutritional Therapist for Vitaminology. She specialises in disease prevention, weight management, type 2 diabetes and cognitive health.
Paige is a Level 3 qualified Personal Trainer at MotivatePT and Accredited Sports Nutritionist passionate about supporting MotivatePT Clients to reach their health and fitness goals with a holistic approach. Paige has over four years of industry experience and specialises in strength and conditioning, nutrition and also has her pre and post-natal training course.
The Benefits Of A Low
For decades, the medical world has recommended a low-fat diet for losing weight, but its becoming increasingly clear that simply reducing fat/calorie intake doesnt lead to long-term weight loss. A low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet, on the other hand, has proven to be more effective for taking weight off. A low-carb diet restricts intake of refined carbohydrates and replaces them with protein and healthy fats.
The benefits of a low-carb diet dont stop at weight loss. Reducing carbohydrates can help improve other health conditions such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Low-carb diets may also raise HDL cholesterol levels if the right foods are consumed such as lean protein, healthy fats and unprocessed carbs. For example, a low-carb diet thats high in fatty meats, whole dairy and other high-fat foods can raise cholesterol, increasing the risk for heart disease and kidney problems.
Targeted Keto Is For Athletes Looking To Improve Their Performance
How It Works Youll follow the keto diet as usual until 30 to 45 minutes before exercise then its time to eat about 25 g of carbs, says Daniela Torchia, PhD, a registered dietitian based in Loma Linda, California. The idea is that youll have just enough carbs to fuel your workout and still be able to return to ketosis easily after you cool down. Choose carbs that are easy to digest and be sure not to add calories to your daily total simply redistribute them, Dr. Torchia says.
A study published in 2019 in the Journal of Sports Medicine found that 28 days of a keto diet helped to increase some athletic endurance. But researchers added that the diet’s benefits were mainly seen in short-duration, vigorous-intensity exercise, and that results were inconsistent, so it may not be the go-to approach for all athletes.
Who It’s Best For This approach is intended for people who frequently engage in intense, muscle-building workouts, according to Torchia. Were talking high-intensity exercise, like running, swimming, or playing tennis for hours on end, Torchia says. Hitting the gym at a moderate pace a couple of times a week likely wont cut it.
RELATED: 6 Things You Need to Know About Exercising on the Keto Diet
Also Check: Low Calorie Diet Plan For Weight Loss
Low Carb Tips And Guides
To make a low carb diet truly simple and enjoyable requires a few new skills. For example, how do you cook low carb breakfasts that you love? How do you get enough protein? How do you eat more healthy fats? And whats important to think about when dining out?
Here are helpful tips to get you started.
What Is A 1200 Calorie High Protein Low Carb Diet
Before defining what a 1200 calorie high protein low carb diet is, you must first realize that there are numerous options and variations of low carb high protein diets out there. Common examples include the Atkins diet, Protein Power, SugarBusters, and many more.
In this case, however, a 1200 calorie high protein low carb diet simply means an eating plan that restricts your calorie intake to 1200 a day. It also requires you to consume meals that are relatively high in protein, have moderate/adequate amounts of fats, and have very little carbohydrates.
How does the 1200 calorie high protein low carb diet work?
Generally, the average woman and man needs about 2000 to 2500 calories, respectively, to maintain their weight. This number may increase or decrease depending on age, lifestyle, and level of fitness. When you consume just 1200 calories a day, you are putting yourself on a calorie deficit, which makes it that much more likely for you to lose weight.
On the other hand, a high protein low carb diet means that your carbohydrates intake is quite restricted. With no carbs to be transformed into glucose to use as energy, the body uses fat storage, which it uses as fuel. This, in turn, puts your body in ketosis state where your body starts using ketones as an energy source, causing more weight loss.
You May Like: 1500 Mg Sodium Diet Menu
Greek Yogurt Blueberry Seeds And Nut Granola
As a private chef, cookbook author, and TV personality, Mark Bailey recommends this blend because it’s filling, will satisfy a sweet craving in a nutritious way, and is loaded with probiotics for digestive health. “Plus, using Greek yogurt in this parfait offers more protein per serving than regular yogurt,” he says. Take note of our exclusive report on the best and worst Greek yogurts so that you pick the right one!
What Does A 1200 Calorie High Protein Low Carb Diet Consist Of
Before jumping headfirst into this way of eating, you must familiarize yourself with the kind of foods and drinks you can consume and those you must avoid. This will ensure that you do not deviate from the meal plan and can reap all the fantastic benefits of the diet.
Read More:The 90-Day Diet Plan: The Simplest Way To Lose Weight And Form Life-Long Healthy Eating Habits
Also Check: Food To Eat When Dieting
Lose Weight & Improve Your Health With A High
According to strong science, eating more protein can reduce your appetite and help you lose body fat and preserve muscle.1
With our meal plan, youll experience all the benefits of a high-protein diet without having to spend time searching for recipes or figuring out what to eat, how much to eat, or how to cook it.
How Much Protein Should You Eat At Each Meal
If you want to eat 30g protein at each meal with some high-protein snacks, your day could look like this.
Breakfast: 3 boiled eggs with 3 small slices of bacon Lunch: Chicken Caesar salad followed by Greek yogurt .Dinner: 2 beef patties with a fried egg and coleslaw.Snacks: 3 slices turkey , a small can of tuna , a handful of walnuts , cubes of cheese .
You May Like: Keto Diet Rules For Beginners
A Final Word On How To Pick The Right Type Of Keto Diet For You
Its a good idea to meet with your doctor or a registered dietitian any time you switch up your diet whether youre on keto or another eating plan. And above all, Torchia says to listen to your body and assess your energy level and how youre feeling on the diet. You will be your best teacher, she says.
Additional reporting by Elizabeth Millard.
What Does 100 Calories Look Like
100 calories from carbs – will trigger raised blood sugars, hunger, and cravings. Example 9 crisps.
100 calories from protein – will indirectly raise blood sugars moderately but keep you full and provide all the essential amino acids your body needs to function. Example small handful of prawns.
100 calories from fat – will not affect blood sugars but will keep you satiated. Example 1 tablespoon of butter.
Eating more protein keeps you fuller for longer but with fewer calories than fat. .
Don’t Miss: Free Weight Loss Diet Plans
The Lazy Keto Diet Could Be The Easiest Version
How It Works The purpose of the so-called lazy keto diet is to make keto easier to follow. Counting calories, fat, and protein intake for some people, thats all too complicated. All you track is carbs in lazy keto, Kizer says.
You should still see results that are similar to regular keto, so long as you keep your carb intake low enough and dont go overboard in the protein department, Kizer says. As long as carbs stay low enough, which will vary by person but is usually below 50 g a day, one will stay in ketosis, Kizer says. As a result, youll be able to see the effects associated with being in the metabolic state.
Who It’s Best For This is meant for those who are interested in ketosis but dont want to be bothered with tracking calories, protein, and fat.
Risks to Note The same people who experts say should stay away from keto in general should also avoid this approach, such as pregnant women, people with diabetes who are using insulin or taking hypoglycemic medication, and people with type 1 diabetes who are at risk for ketoacidosis, Kizer says.
Dirty Keto Is Similar To The Standard Diet But Expands The Menu
How It Works Is this diet as fun as it sounds? Depends on whom you ask. The macronutrient distribution in the dirty keto approach is the same as in the standard keto plan, according to Melissa Nieves, RD, an advisor for HealthyMeals Supreme who is based in Puerto Rico. The big difference is that the source of these macros can come from any kind of food, including highly processed and prepackaged meals. For example, instead of getting healthy fats and low carbs from almonds, you can hit your macro amounts with BBQ pork rinds instead. The main point of dirty keto is that, since the macronutrient amounts it follows support a ketogenic state, it doesnt matter where those macros come from, she says.
Who It’s Best For This variation is for those who need a high level of convenience and lack the time or interest for cooking and meal prep, Nieves says. This may also be the easiest route to follow for those just getting into keto, she adds, since you can stick to keto even when traveling or dealing with a busy schedule you just need to read package labels carefully rather than going deep into meal planning.
Nieves advises those with preexisting health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease to tread with caution, but even if you dont have those issues, be aware of the health drawbacks. In general, she adds, if you plan on going keto, consider the dirty version only when you need the convenience, and not as a long-term approach.
Don’t Miss: Easy Diets That Work Fast
Lower Risk Of Heart Disease
One of the side benefits of reaching a healthy weight and having lean body mass is that you lower your risk for heart disease. Inflammation is the real cause of heart disease, not cholesterol .
If you have high blood pressure, then reducing your carbohydrate intake and sugars have been shown to reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors such as inflammation and raised triglycerides.
A high protein diet may reduce blood pressure and reduce triglycerides and inflammation which are the real cause of heart disease, not cholesterol.
What To Eat On A 1200 Calorie High Protein Low Carb Diet
Being on this diet does not mean that you will have a hard time finding meals to consume and being full and energized throughout the day. However, if you are unsure, this 1200 calorie high protein low carb diet food list will give ideas of what foods to shop for and which ones to avoid.
Foods that you can safely add to your 1200 calorie high protein low carb diet menu include:
Read Also: How Does The Mediterranean Diet Work
Benefits Of A High Protein Low Carb Diet
Firstly, there are numerous potential benefits that a diet high in protein and lower in carbohydrate can have.
These are specifically related to weight loss, satiety levels, and improved body composition.
To understand why these benefits occur, we have to examine the function of carbohydrate and protein within the body.
Carry The Appropriate Snacks
Many people can confess that they are snackers. However, choosing the right diet-appropriate snack can be hard to do when faced with more options. To prevent this, choose to carry low carb high protein snacks such as hard boiled eggs, unsweetened yogurt, a handful of nuts, and cheese slices as long as they are counted within the 1200 calorie intake for the day.
If you wish to free yourself from all the extra pounds that have been weighting you down for way too long, start using the BetterMe app and overhaul your entire life!
You May Like: Gastric Sleeve Pre Surgery Diet
Maintain Blood Sugar Levels
High-protein diets also help you manage blood sugar levels. You don’t necessarily have to count calories . Instead, just eat fewer carbs and more protein.
Maintaining blood sugar control is very important for anyone that has been told they have pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or gestational diabetes. Lower blood sugar often occurs with a low-carb diet because low-carb foods help prevent blood sugar spikes.
Eating more protein helps you keep full until your next meal and helps prevent continuous snacking which often keeps blood sugars elevated.
What Is A Low Carb High Protein Diet
While there is no hard and fast rule regarding the definition of a low carb, high protein diet, generally speaking, low carb diets limit the number of carbohydrates you eat while emphasizing protein-rich foods.
A low-carb diet is generally one that provides less than 40% of your total energy from carbohydrates. Additionally, many low carb, high protein diets recommend that you get 30% to 50% of your total calories from protein.
High protein, low carb diets are popular among people interested in weight loss, those looking to improve their blood sugar control, and for people looking to improve their general health.
Don’t Miss: Easy Diet To Lose Belly Fat
High Protein Low Carb Snacks
The key to sticking with your low-carb, high protein diet is to ensure that youre not starving in between meals. When choosing snacks, make sure they are rich in protein, as protein can have a powerful and positive effect on your appetite.
For example,studieshave shown that protein-rich snacking can help you feel fuller for longer and can also help facilitate weight loss.
Additionally, eating a low carb, high protein snack has been linked to improved heart health. One2015 study found that people eating the highest amount of protein had a 40% lower risk of developing high blood pressure compared with those consuming the least amount of protein.
There is no shortage of high protein, low carb snacks to choose from however, the following are the best high protein snacks that will surely satisfy you between meals.
How To Build A Healthy High
- Balance your macros. Keep your high-protein, low-carb meals to 35% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 35% protein, Brooking and Harris-Pincus suggest. On a 2,000 calorie diet, this will look like 175 grams of carbohydrates, 67 grams of fat, and 175 grams of protein per day.
- Theres no need to overload the protein. We can only use around 25 to 30 grams of protein per meal to maximize muscle growth and repair, so any extra is just extra calories, Harris-Pincus says.
- Focus on fiber. Seek out meals that have at least half of the total carb grams from fiber, when possible, Harris-Pincus says. Focus on fiber instead of cutting carbs. If each carbohydrate-based food you eat is also high in fiber, you will be full and need to consume fewer calories overallwhich leads to weight loss.
Now that you know the basics, we have a bunch of fun recipes. Try a mix of meals below to create a high-protein, low-carb plan that you can actually stick with.
Recommended Reading: Diet Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Calorie High Protein Low Carb Diet
Have you heard about the 1200 calorie high protein low-carb diet? Are you wondering if this is the best diet to help you achieve the body of your dreams? You are not alone. When it comes to weight loss and trying to shed the excess pounds, the options on what you can do to help you achieve this can seem endless. After all, there is not one diet option that seems to work the same for everyone. Read on to find out if this meal plan could be perfect for you and your goals.
A Sample High Protein Low Carb Diet Meal Plan
Here is a sample one-day meal plan to show how this diet can work.
This particular diet plan is aimed at someone weighing 175 lbs , its moderately low in carbohydrate, and its designed to hit the RDA for all essential nutrients.
However, it is a basic template, and the food amounts/choices can be changed to suit personal tastes.
Recommended Reading: Pro Plan Veterinary Diets En Gastroenteric
A Strict Keto Diet Is Used For Epilepsy Treatment
How It Works When people say theyre on the strict version of keto, theyre likely referring to the one thats been shown to help treat epilepsy. Sometimes called the therapeutic keto diet, this is the original version of keto, which was created in the 1920s to help treat seizures, according to a study published in Current Treatment Options in Neurology. Strict ketosis was traditionally for those using ketosis as part of treatment for who were nonresponsive to medication, Kizer says.
The original study found that sticking to the keto diet for one year led to improvements for 44 percent of study participants, with another 12 percent becoming seizure-free, per a study published in June 2016 in Practical Neurology.
This version of the diet allows for the lowest amount of carbs . According to the Practical Neurology study, 90 percent of daily calories come from fat, 6 percent from protein, and just 4 percent from carbs.
Who It’s Best For People who are trying the keto diet to treat epilepsy
Risks to Note The most common side effects among children who followed the diet were constipation, weight loss, and growth problems or anorexia, found the Practical Neurology study. The growth problems among children may be the result of limited protein intake, Spritzler says.
Unsurprisingly, this strict version of keto also seems to be the toughest one to stick to: Research shows that the modified versions of the diet have lower drop-out rates.
