A low kilojoule diet made up of higher protein meals improves the ability to burn fat among overweight and obese people and may be the key to shedding excess kilos, according to new Australian research.
The study published by Wiley-Blackwell found higher protein meals may have a subtle fat-burning effect in overweight or obese people.
And the study showed the glycaemic index (GI) of a meal has no additional effect on fat breakdown.
Study co-author Dr. Marijka Batterman, an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, said: ‘We know from past research that overweight or obese people are not as efficient at burning fat.
This new study shows that fat oxidation, or the body’s ability to ‘burn’ fat, improves in obese people when they eat a higher protein diet.’
Study participants were put on two protein-enriched meals and one standard meal, which all contained the same number of kilojoules.
The two protein-enriched meals differed in the type of carbohydrate they contained – either high- or low-GI. The amount of kilojoules subjects burnt was then measured.
The high-protein meals led to the greatest level of fat oxidation. This plan included a cheese and tomato omelette for breakfast, and a beef, chutney and salad sandwich, with a tub of low-fat yoghurt, for lunch.
Read more at Medical News Today
