High Protein Pros
- Creates satiety in meals which may contribute to weight loss in those following a high-protein diet with restricted energy requirements.
- May contribute to muscle gain for those that are following a muscle building training program (or muscle maintenance).
- May encourage consumers to choose healthy foods. For those that aren’t health conscious, they may discover healthy eating patterns and behaviours and apply this throughout their diet.
- Prevents muscle wastage for those on a strict weight loss diet. Muscle mass often decreased during weight loss, along with fat mass, however maintaining muscle mass is crucial for overall health. A high protein diet helps to prevent muscle loss.
- Protein is a vital macronutrient in our diet. Protein and the amino acids that make up protein, assist in our immune function, hair, skin and nail health along with bone health. Consuming a diet high in protein is therefore important for overall health and wellbeing.
High Protein Cons
- Following a diet that prioritises one food group over other can be harmful and lead to a lack of essential nutrients and vitamins. This can create health issues such as nutrient deficiencies and create a poor relationship and understanding around health and nutritional needs.
- A high protein diet isn’t suitable for a vast range of people, especially those with chronic health conditions such as kidney disease.
- Protein intake and requirements are different for everyone and need to be considered carefully i.e. adults, elderly, children, athletes.
- Some meals or meal plans favour high-fat and highly processed foods which can be unhealthy and not-suitable for individuals.
- Following a high-protein diet can be overwhelming for beginners, especially if they are not used to eating adequate amounts of protein which can lead to poor compliance.
- This type of diet doesn’t necessarily educate consumers around choosing high-quality nutritional food sources and can often confuse consumers around recognising their appetite patterns.