Want to Lose Weight? Increase Protein, Study Finds

While recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state the average adult man should take in 56 grams of protein a day, while women should consume 46 grams each day, a recent study has found that increasing protein intake can benefit weight loss efforts.

Research finds that doubling one’s daily intake of protein will prevent the loss of muscle mass while promoting fat loss during short-term weight loss.

According to researchers at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, who conducted the study, the 31-day regimen followed three groups: Those who took the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of protein, those who doubled that amount, and those who tripled their protein intake.

After observing all groups and controlling their diet and exercise regimens, they concluded that the group that doubled their RDA saw increased muscle mass and fat-burning benefits compared to the group following the U.S.-recommended protein intake.

The group whose protein intake was tripled did not see added benefit beyond the group that doubled their RDA, researchers concluded.