There are so many sources of protein knocking about, from the obvious sources such as meat and dairy to the more processed protein shakes and protein bars.
Whether you’re a daily exerciser or just do burst every now and again, protein is such an important part of your diet that sometimes gets overlooked. I know whenever you hear the word protein, you think of body builders eating stacks of meat and drinking protein shakes every hour, but in reality, protein is important for everyone in order to maximise your workout and to aid the recovery process.
In order to help you understand why you need to add protein into your meals, we’re going to share a few very important reasons as well as a few sources of protein that aren’t just meat.
Nutrition and Health: Protein in essential for exercise, if you’re undertaking any kind of exercise whether it be a jog or strength training, you will always need a bit more protein than someone who does not form or exercise. This is because you are ‘tearing’ and ‘breaking’ the muscle fibres which will then need to be repaired by the body, which requires protein.
Growth and Repair: Have you been going to the gym none-stop and are seeing little or no results? It’s most likely because you aren’t giving your muscles enough protein to rebuild themselves. It’s not just the workout that will help to build your muscles, it’s how you take care of them afterwards. Your body uses protein to build and repair tissue.
Unlike carbohydrates and fat, your body doesn’t store protein, meaning your body has none to draw from when you’re running low. That’s why a lot of people use protein bars and shakes, because they usually have a specific amount of protein in them to contribute to your daily intake.
How much protein should you consume per day? The Dietary Reference Intake is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight or 0.36 grams per pound. So if you’re 140lbs, you should be consuming 50.4 grams of protein a day.
Now, there are so many sources of protein, but here a just a few:
– Dairy Products
– Meat (of course)
– Fish and Seafood
– Pistachio Nuts
– Whey Protein
– Dried Lentils
And so many more.
So now you’ve learnt about the importance of protein and how much you should be consuming, maybe your fitness journey will get past that plateau and exceed much further than you thought.
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