How do you rev up your sluggish metabolism?  Try packing in the protein.   Numerous studies have shown that eating fewer carbs and emphasizing proteins help with weight loss, blood sugar issues, and cardiovascular health.  Let’s go inside our bodies to take a look at why this is true.

You are doing well eating a moderate amount of low glycemic foods and stepping up your exercise.  Since you are spending more fuel than you are taking in, your autopilot becomes concerned.

“Fuel supplies are low,” he radios to the rest of the team. “Bring out the emergency supplies.”

You have plenty that you packed away last Christmas, so that’s no problem. But getting it out IS a problem.

“Send us the key to the fat cells,” the blood supplies signals.  “We don’t have it.”

The “key” is a specific amino acid, found in red meats, dairy products, and a few other sources.  But you have been avoiding those since they are high in calories or maybe you are lactose intolerant, and so the amino acid isn’t available from your diet.

“All right,” the autopilot says, “We don’t have the key.  Get the amino acid from the muscles.”

The muscles protest. “We’ll shrink,” they say. “You can’t afford to cannibalize us”

“All right, all right,” the harassed autopilot says. “I’ll slow things down so we use as little as possible. But give it up, because we have to get the fat supply out of storage.”

The muscles reluctantly give up the amino acid and shrink a bit in the process.  The amino acid unlocks the doors to the cells and lets out the fat stores.  You are delighted to see the drop in  numbers on the scales. However, you may not be aware that while a percentage of that loss is fat, you have also lost muscle. Continuing on with the same scenario means more muscle loss as you burn up the fat stores — and a slower metabolism and consequent slower fat loss because the autopilot is trying his best to preserve your muscles.

Eating the right protein can fix that problem.  I personally use a whey protein powder that contains the specific amino acid — minus the casein which causes problems to those of us who are lactose intolerant.

When you have that amino acid available, you have handed your body the keys to open the doors to release the fat stores.  Your muscles are spared, and your loss is almost all fat.  Your autopilot isn’t alarmed about using up your muscles, so your metabolism speeds up instead of slowing down.

One of the sources I read said that eating a high protein breakfast, like eggs, can speed up  your metabolism by 65%, compared to a high carbohydrate breakfast, like a bagel.

So pack in the proteins.  If dairy is a problem, you may want to check into a protein powder.  Buy it from a reputable company, though, and check out the labels.  Remember, it’s the casein that causes problems with lactose intolerance, so make sure it has been removed.  Also, make sure it doesn’t contain extra ingredients like sugar.

Adding more protein to your diet also has the advantage of satisfying your hunger so you are content with fewer calories.  And I believe the whey protein powder I use is an important factor in my personal bone health. A recent bone density test showed I have stronger bones than 99% of women my age.

Those are all good reasons to add protein to your diet — besides the fact that is can rev up your metabolism!

Eating to live and living for Christ,

Susan Jordan Brown