Dr Ben Ng

Ask Dr Ben : if I ate 1000 cal of protein and 1000 cal of carbohydrate were likely in the same amount of weight "If calories are calories, why does protein seem to help with weight loss?" On paper, 1000 calories is still 1000 calories. But your body doesn't necessarily treat all calories exactly the same way. Simply put protein is harder to break down compared to carbohydrates. In other words the body needs to use energy to break down the food that we eat Let's say you eat 1000 calories of protein. To digest, absorb and process that protein, your body may use around 200 to 300 calories or 20-30% That leaves roughly 700 to 800 calories available. Now compare that with 1000 calories of carbohydrate. Your body may only use around 50 to 100 calories or 5 to 10 percent processing those carbohydrates. So in simple math, if you were to eat 1000 calories of protein the total net energy you absorb will be about 7 to 800 cal compared to 1000 cal of carbohydrate where you will absorb 900 to 9 and 50 cal Protein also tends to keep us fuller for longer, which means many people naturally eat less later in the day. That doesn't mean protein calories don't count. But it does mean that two diets containing the same number of calories can affect hunger, fullness and eating behaviour quite differently. That's how I would bend it today. Calories still matter, but the source of those calories can influence both how much energy your body uses and how hungry you feel afterwards. #drbenng #Doctorexplains #Doctortalks #Healthcareeducation #Healthtips #Medicaladvice #Patienteducation #Healthexplained #Doctoranswersj