What foods rich in protein are healthy and help you lose weight?

Protein-rich foods help you lose weight. How? Very simple. Protein builds muscle and muscle in turn burns fat. You’ve probably heard it many times from personal trainers, and if you haven’t, now you know.

If you want to lose weight it is very important to eat a diet rich in protein along with fruits and vegetables. Also do not forget about complex carbohydrates. Don’t eat simple carbohydrates like pizza, white pasta, and white sugar. Instead, nourish your body with complex carbohydrates like brown rice, sprouted bread, and fruit.

So what are the high-protein foods that help you lose weight? There are two main sources of protein: animal and vegetable. The name says it all. The first, animal protein, comes from animals. For example: cottage cheese, ground turkey, cold cuts, whey protein powder, cheese, butter, etc. Vegetable sources of protein consist of quinoa, soy milk, brown rice protein powder, tofu, etc.

Not all protein sources are created equal and are good for you or help you lose weight. You have to know which protein sources are essential for weight loss and, more importantly, when you should consume them.

Do you exercise regularly with the goal of losing weight? If so, did you know that to build muscle, you need to consume foods rich in protein and complex carbohydrates within 20 to 60 minutes of finishing your workout? If you do it later, you’ve missed a window of opportunity! Your body needs protein immediately after training and if you don’t provide additional protein within that time frame, it will use up the protein inside your body: your muscle.

Animal sources of protein are great for you. Be sure to look for lean protein, like extra lean ground turkey. You could buy extra lean ground beef, but did you know that ground beef is 75 calories and 8g more fat than turkey, like in the 4oz burger comparison? Also be sure to buy organic and/or all-natural meats and other sources of protein. Why? Because they contain fewer additives, pesticides, hormones and preservatives which in turn affect weight loss and overall health. Find low-carb recipes made with real food when cooking

What vegetable sources of protein are good for weight loss? The best is quinoa and brown rice protein powder. That’s on my list. Be very careful with soy products, as 85% of soy in North America is genetically modified and high in estrogen. So is tofu good for weight loss? Only organic and in limited quantities.