Protein is essential for optimal health. Whether you want to lose weight, maintain an ideal weight, build muscle, or just be able to function properly, your daily protein intake plays an important role in sustaining life and keeping your body running smoothly and efficiently.
Consider some of these crucial reasons as to why you must get enough protein.
Building muscle
Protein is the foundation of muscle building. Its amino acids are the building blocks of the muscles and the entire body. Eating a sufficient amount of protein each day is the key factor in forcing your body to burned stored fat instead of precious muscle. The more lean muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn, and the easier it will be to achieve and maintain that ideal number on the scale.
Calorie Burning
In addition to aiding in metabolic increase by preserving lean muscle tissue, protein possesses a higher thermic effect which essentially means that protein takes more calories to digest as compared to carbohydrates and fats. It’s said to take approximately 30 percent of the calories consumed to digest protein.
Eating more protein each day means that you’ll naturally burn more calories. While increasing protein intake alone won’t create enough extra calories burned to result in significant pounds lost, it will boost weight-loss efforts.
Keeps you Fuller Longer
A meal higher in protein has been shown to make you feel fuller and more satisfied longer than after a meal that is primarily made up of carbs. It can even decrease your desire to eat for several hours after the meal, resulting in a lower overall calorie intake and eventual weight loss.
Healthiest Protein Sources
Getting your daily protein does not mean running out to the nearest fast food joint for a burger. Fast foods, processed foods and standard meats are laden with variety of toxins (as well as unwanted hormones and antibiotics) that can lead to weight gain and a host of health problems over time.
The best sources include:
• Organic, grass-fed meats
• Wild-caught fish, especially salmon
• Nuts including walnuts, almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts
• Seeds such as hemp and pumpkin seeds
• Legumes – one of the most perfect foods on the planet with more protein than any other plant food.
• Plain Greek yogurt
Where will you get your protein today?
-The Alternative Daily
