Higher protein diet boosts muscle mass to maintain metabolism
Eating a high protein diet with lower levels of carbohydrates can helpdecrease fat around the stomach and boost lean muscle mass.That is according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, which was undertaken by researchers at McMaster University.
Andrea Josse, lead author of the study, said: "One hundred per cent of the weight lost in the higher-protein, high-dairy group was fat, and the participants gained muscle mass, which is a major change in body composition."
He explained that gaining muscle mass is important if people want to maintain their metabolic rate and prevent future weight gain.
The researchers discovered that the most effective diet was one where proteins came predominantly from dairy.
Stuart Phillips, a professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University, said that women who followed a higher protein, high dairy diet became fitter and stronger, thus cutting their risk of disease.
Researchers at Duke University in North Carolina, USA, revealed that resistance training boosts muscle mass, while aerobic exercise is most effective at burning calories.
