THE DOWNSIDE OF PROTEIN

A high-protein diet can aid fat loss by preserving lean muscle mass and increasing satiety. But new research1 suggests there may be a downside. The study compared dieters consuming 0.8g of protein per kg body weight (.75g is the recommended daily allowance in the UK) with those consuming 1.2g/ kg. Both groups shed considerable amounts of weight and the higherprotein group did indeed lose a little less lean body mass. However, they experienced no improvement in insulin sensitivity – key in the prevention of diabetes and other metabolic diseases – while those on the lower protein intake gained improvements of 25-30 per cent.