List of High Protein Foods

In these days of ever-increasing obesity a list of high protein foods is highly needed. This is mainly because a large proportion of the United States population is either overweight or clinically obese. Recent study has shown that the American diet consists of far to much carbohydrates and fat. For this reason the Food and Drug Administration of the United States has produced a list of high protein foods to reccommend as containing high doses of protein.

When viewing the list of foods from the Food and Drug Administration that are labeled as high in protein you will notice that many of them contain large amounts of startch which also converts to sugar and will in turn spike the glycemic index. New research claims that to much unchecked carbohydrates without matched protein will trigger weight gain because the sugar converts to fat. This is why the concepts behind the popular Atkins diet got its foothold as a weight reducing program, and how the popular Zone diet became a trend. Because both of these plans, on some level, addressed unchecked carbohydrates.

Here are some more facts from the FDA on their strategy for determining if a food was high in protein. Apparently, a high protein food is referred to as a product that contains “10 g or more of high-quality protein per serving”, where as a “good source of protein” contains “at least 5 g of high-quality protein per serving.” It is important to also understand that protein contains 4 calories per gram, carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram and fat contains 9 calories per gram.

When preparing your list of high protein foods, be sure and look for simple foods, such as meat protein that has a low to moderate amount of fat. If you are a vegetarian there are ways to add protein to your diet by eating foods that contain soy, protein power bars, or even a liquid protein supplement. There are also whey proteins, and many vegetables contain various amounts of protein. Fish, beans, peas, milk and dairy products are also good sources. The egg is one of the best balanced sources of protein, carbs, and fat all rolled into one little oval package. If you start your day with an egg, you will have eaten a great source of balanced protein which will carry you through the morning well into the day without the cravings that a high carbohydrate breakfast most often creates.

So it is wise to create a list of high protein foods incorporating your favorites to help you keep your weight balanced and ensure better health.