New study claims weight loss may be boosted by cutting one thing from diet
26.11.2023 - 10:25
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Weight loss may be helped by avoiding certain types of calories, while eating more of others, new research suggests.
If you think a "calorie is a calorie" and all units of energy are created equal, scientists have suggested this may not be true. In fact, a component present in the calories of popular foods recommended for slimming may be holding back your efforts.
In a new study, published recently in the journal Cell Metabolism, researchers found that mice who were given one less amino acid - named isoleucine - in their diet saw them lose weight and become less frail. These mice were given more calories to eat compared to their counterparts who continued to consume the acid.
"We like to say a calorie is not just a calorie. Different components of your diet have value and impact beyond their function as a calorie, and we’ve been digging in on one component that many people may be eating too much of," said Professor Dudley Laming, the study's lead author.
In addition, reducing the consumption of isoleucine may help curb the risk of certain cancers while improve strength and extend lifespan. The mice who ate less isoleucine also burned more calories while sedentary, even though they ate more.
Amino acids are the molecular building blocks of proteins and isoleucine is found in foods including eggs, dairy, soy protein - with the highest levels in some of dieter's favourite foods like red meat such as steak and lean chicken.
Professor Lamming, a metabolism researcher at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, set out to better understand the health effects of isoleucine and their connection to healthy aging.
In earlier research, data from UW–Madison’s Survey of the Health of Wisconsin showed the scientists