The Claim
In healthy young adults, a high-protein, lower-carbohydrate ultra-processed diet increases fat oxidation and reduces carbohydrate oxidation compared to a normal-protein, normal-carbohydrate ultra-processed diet, resulting in a more favorable macronutrient partitioning despite positive energy balance.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In healthy young adults, eating a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates made from ultra-processed foods increases the body's use of fat for energy and decreases its use of carbohydrates, compared to a diet with normal amounts of both macronutrients, even when consuming more calories than needed.
See the scientific wording
In healthy young adults, a high-protein, lower-carbohydrate ultra-processed diet increases fat oxidation and reduces carbohydrate oxidation compared to a normal-protein, normal-carbohydrate ultra-processed diet, resulting in a more favorable macronutrient partitioning despite positive energy balance.
Eating more protein and fewer carbs causes the liver to release more glucagon, which tells the body to break down fat for energy instead of storing it or using sugar. This also makes the liver burn more energy just to process the protein, so the body uses less sugar and more fat even when eating more calories than needed.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Short-term effects of high-protein, lower-carbohydrate ultra-processed foods on human energy balance
When people ate ultra-processed meals with more protein and fewer carbs, they naturally ate fewer calories and burned more energy, even though they were still eating more than they needed. This suggests their bodies started using more fat for fuel instead of carbs.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.