If you eat the wrong protein to lose weight, your cholesterol will remain high! Physicians debunk common misconceptions about protein intake

Some people eat a lot of protein to lose weight, but if they eat the wrong protein, their cholesterol levels may remain high! A 32-year-old male office worker found that his BMI, triglycerides and cholesterol were all above the standard during the employee health check-up. Worried about increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, he began to exercise actively and reduce the intake of refined starch. However, one year later, although the weight had dropped by 7 kg, the triglycerides and cholesterol levels remained in the red. It was not until the doctor asked him about his eating habits that he realized the problem was that he ate too much "high-fat red meat"!

Xu Zhiyu, a weight loss specialist and family medicine physician who treated the patient, said that the patient told her that she started searching for weight loss information online after an employee health check and found that many suggestions advocated reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing protein intake. Therefore, he decided to give up the bread he had to eat every day, and instead use pork, beef, etc. as his staple food, and started going to the gym to run. After one year of persistence, although his weight was successfully reduced from 86 kg to 79 kg, and his BMI dropped from mild obesity to overweight, his triglyceride level was still over the limit at 180 (standard value <150 mg/dl), and his low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was also high at 150~160 (standard value <130 mg/dl), which made him quite confused and he decided to seek help from a doctor.

After learning about the patient's eating habits in detail, Dr. Hsu Chih-Yu recommended that the patient should diversify his protein intake, alternating between red meat and seafood, white meat and plant-based protein. Dr. Hsu Chih-yu explained that although red meat is rich in minerals such as iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, its saturated fat and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol content is also relatively high. Excessive intake may increase triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. In comparison, although plant protein is absorbed more slowly, it is rich in dietary fiber and antioxidant phytochemicals, and has a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids. After adjusting the protein source, the patient's triglycerides and cholesterol returned to normal within three months.

Dr. Xu Zhiyu debunks common misunderstandings about protein intake. (Photo provided by Hatsuhi Clinic)

Dr. Hsu Chih-yu added that plant-based diets and plant protein have become popular in recent years, but many people still have misunderstandings about the classification of beans. The most common misconception is to regard red beans and mung beans, which are often used to make desserts, as vegetable beans. In fact, these two beans, as well as pinto beans, emperor beans and pea kernels, are all "starch beans"; green beans and lentils are "vegetable beans"; the most common "protein beans" are actually soybeans and edamame.