74% of Americans age 20 and older are either obese or overweight. Unfortunately, the natural consequence of these conditions is diabetes, a diagnosis that you want to avoid as if your life depended on it because it does. The old adage of eating less and exercising more holds true, even though it is so difficult to do.
A recent article in the journal Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism shed some hope on how to make weight loss easier. The study divided diabetics and prediabetics into two groups. Group 1 was put on a high-protein plant-based diet while group 2 was eating a high-protein animal-based diet. Total calories were moderately restricted with only 35% of calories from carbohydrates (all the good stuff we like to eat).
The results are remarkable in that both groups lost a significant amount of fat while maintaining muscle mass. In addition, there were improvements in blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol and inflammatory markers that cause blood vessel damage from diabetes.
To summarize, a high protein (also known as the Keto diet), either plant or animal derived, was very beneficial and can lead to a lifestyle change in the struggle to prevent diabetes. The high protein diet can be appetite satisfying and easy to do. Diabetic and kidney failure patients need to check with their doctor before beginning this diet journey.
Dr. Charlie Barnett is a contributor at KnoxTNToday for a weekly column, DocTalk, providing his expertise on health and wellness management.
