Feeling good on low protein
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Hi, I feel really good on low protein, and I wonder why. I first discovered this last year when trying sugar fasting and honey diet for 4 to 6 weeks, but since then, I've been eating relatively normally. I get a lot of issues from increasing protein to 100 grams from below 50 grams. I'm even higher now due to being in a weightloss phase.
The only reason I'm experiencing it again is because I'm fasting for faith purposes all meat and dairy. Also grains. I originally ruined my metabolism by being high protein while doing keto incorrectly for about a year. But I had many negative effects that I experience in a smaller way while doing high protein for weightloss (120 grams ish of protein a day).
I notice particularly with hair growth. My hair sheds and breaks off more often when higher protein while hair grows faster and stronger on lower protein. Not sure why.
Thoughts?
Also, it could by fats rather than protein but I don't think so because I was still higher fat during keto (though not 4:1 fat:protein as you're supposed to be).
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@secondkelping protein activates mTOR and reduces FGF 21, which slows down the metabolism of carbs & fats, whilst simulataneously increasing oxygen hungry lipogenic enzymes that may steal oxygen from the mitochondria. Restriction of protein, to even moderate levels, increases calorie expenditure by at least 300 calories a day, as calorie consumption increased by a mega joule & activity dropped, yet participants still lost weight.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-025-01236-7/figures/2
https://fireinabottle.net/linoleic-acid-is-stealing-your-oxygen/ -
@alfredoolivas thanks for the info. I've been out of the depths of bioenergetic world for a while (still peating though), so it's going to take me some time to read through and understand your links. I'm a big fan of fireinabottle though.
I think the increased energy expenditure is helping me since I am overweight still. I'd like to be able to do higher protein though if possible.
Also, through looking at other posts, this could also be related to methionine and cysteine restriction as well. It's difficult for me though to consume more gelatin or gelatinous meats. I also don't know the amount that I would need to add in yet to balance out the negative effects. I usually take 1 scoop of collagen protein a day, but I think that's too little.
Anyways, I could also just keep protein low, but if there was a way to do higher and feel good, I'd like to know it.
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secondkelping said:
@alfredoolivas thanks for the info. I've been out of the depths of bioenergetic world for a while (still peating though), so it's going to take me some time to read through and understand your links. I'm a big fan of fireinabottle though.
I think the increased energy expenditure is helping me since I am overweight still. I'd like to be able to do higher protein though if possible.
Also, through looking at other posts, this could also be related to methionine and cysteine restriction as well. It's difficult for me though to consume more gelatin or gelatinous meats. I also don't know the amount that I would need to add in yet to balance out the negative effects. I usually take 1 scoop of collagen protein a day, but I think that's too little.
Anyways, I could also just keep protein low, but if there was a way to do higher and feel good, I'd like to know it.
Read this: How Much Protein Do You Need?
It's good. I'm black, so I was looking into West African diets recently anyways because I suspected that they were historically lower in fats and proteins, and that their macros may make me feel better after doing the honey diet. I went into trad weightloss (calorie restriction and exercise) afterwards though and so lost track of that.
He references a study on that while also showing with other studies that nitrogen balance can be achieved on a relatively low diet of 44~ grams of protein.
I think I'll try keeping protein low and see what happens (between 40g-50g). My brain just feels so much better on low protein that it's difficult to describe.
I was thinking that the issue may also be b vitamins for me. My gut has improved but not completely, so I was thinking that I may not be properly absorbing b vitamins. I could be doing all of this right but just need lower protein in general.
It's still hard doing a 2:3 protein:gelatin protein diet though. He suggested about 3 eggs (6-7 grams of protein) w/ 30g gelatin, which would be about 20:30. Trying to get that in is difficult...
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