When on any of the hCG diet plans, protein is an important component. The protein portion of this diet is crucial because of the metabolic effects that contribute to successful weight loss. Not are proteins are the same in their metabolic properties, so it is important to follow the specific dietary instructions.

Protein as a source of calories actually requires energy to burn. In medical terms, this is referred to as "postprandial thermogenesis" and it can represent up to 10% of our caloric needs. So when eating and then digesting a protein meal, you can essentially increase the caloric needs requested of your body's metabolism. This is due to the added energy needed for digestion. When you increase your caloric needs in any way, the scale is tipped in favor of losing more weight. As you burn more calories you will burn more of your fat stores.

A study of the breakfast habits of two groups of individuals showed that the group that ate a breakfast rich in protein consumed 30% fewer calories that day than the group that ate a breakfast rich in carbohydrates. After breakfast, neither group was given any restrictions on further food choices. This suggests that you will have less of an appetite throughout the day having consumed protein in the morning. When combined with hCG diet plans, the appetite suppressive effect of protein can be of great benefit to reaching you weight loss goals.

Protein as a food substance does not tend to raise blood insulin levels. Sugars tend to do this, and insulin among other things is a fat storage hormone. One of our goals is to keep blood sugar levels (and therefore insulin levels) as close to normal as possible. Protein in the meal accomplishes this.

When your body uses up all the calories from the food you have consumed before your daily caloric needs are met, it will look to its reserves to make up the caloric deficit. In a perfect world your body would pull all the extra calories it needs from fat stores, but that is just not the way it works. Your body will look to lean muscle tissue as well as fat to satisfy its daily caloric requirements. Adding protein to your diet has been shown to encourage the body to pull more of the calories it needs from fat rather than lean muscle tissue, pharmaceutical hCG added to the mix can enhance that effect as well.

You may want to consider taking a fiber supplement to buffer the decreased bulk in your diet. One side effect of reducing calories is constipation, the fiber supplement with help to alleviate this issue. Powdered supplemental fiber may contain sugar so make sure the brand you take is sugar free.

In conclusion, a diet rich with quality protein is a critical factor as a fat and weight loss aid when you are on the hCG diet. Please keep this in mind when you are on any of the hCG diet plans.

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