High-Protein Diet: How to Get Started



Alyssa Shaffer




From weight loss to building muscle, there’s plenty of evidence behind the power of protein. Here’s how to make it work for you.




Why you need protein

Whether you’re hoping to lose weight, build muscle, or just have more energy to power you through your day, a high-protein diet can help. “Protein plays a wide number of roles in the body,” notes Kelly Pritchett, PhD, RD, an associate professor in nutrition and exercise science at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. “From cellular growth and repair to creating enzymes, helping with fluid and electrolyte balances and forming antibodies, protein is crucial.”