A high-protein diet can make regular exercise more effective for women trying to lose weight – helping to build muscle while trimming body fat, a small study suggests.

In a four-month period, the protein-rich diet along with exercise significantly reduced abdominal fat and triglycerides, risk factors for heart disease, according to findings published in a recent issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

"People thinking about doing exercise want a return on that investment," said Donald K. Layman, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign campus, who led the study. "Our way of looking at it is the protein-rich diet basically boosts the benefit of doing exercise."

Find out how a high protein diet can improve exercising effectiveness and lead to weight loss at http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/12799488.htm.