Why do i need more Protein in my Diet?
Protein is
an essential nutrient, responsible for multiple functions in your body,
including building tissue, cells and muscle, as well as making hormones and
anti-bodies. Everyone needs protein in their diet, but if you do endurance
sports or weight training you may need to increase your protein intake, and to
factor it into your training routine at specific times to reap its
muscle-boosting benefits.
How much protein should I eat?
For most
people a daily dose of around 0.8-1g of protein per 1kg of body weight is
recommended. For strength athletes 1.2-1.7g per kg of body weight is
recommended per day, with a recommendation of 1.2-1.4g per kg of body weight
per day for endurance athletes. After exercise, protein is particularly important
since muscles need it to recover and grow. A portion of protein (15-25g) is
recommended within 30 minutes of exercise, when your muscles are particularly
receptive to protein synthesis.
For most of
us, our daily protein requirements are easily achieved by a healthy, balanced
diet. The Department of Health advises adults to avoid consuming more than
twice the recommended daily intake of protein (55.5g for the average man and
45g for the average woman). This is because there is evidence that, in the long
term, consuming too much protein can lead to health issues such as an increased
risk of osteoporosis and a worsening of an existing kidney problem.
One of the
main issues with our Western diet is that most of our breakfasts and lunches
are low in protein but high in carbohydrates, with a protein-packed evening
meal. It is better to aim to spread your protein intake out throughout the day.
High-Protein
Dairy
1. Greek
Yogurt
Protein Power: 23
g per 8 oz. serving
Made by straining away the liquid, deliciously thick
Greek-style yogurts contain about twice as much protein as regular versions.
You'll also reap the rewards of gut-friendly probiotic bacteria and
bone-building calcium.
Need to Know: Plain
Greek yogurt can contain up to three times less sugar than flavored types.
2. Cottage
Cheese
Protein Power: 14
g per 1/2 cup serving
This curd-riddled cheese product is laced with casein protein—a slow-digesting protein
that supplies your growing muscles with a steady supply of vital amino acids.
Think of it as the MVP of snack time, especially before bedtime.
Need to Know: Cottage
cheese is notoriously high in sodium, but you can now compare nutrition labels
to find brands that contain less.
3. Swiss Cheese
Protein Power: 8
g per 1 oz. serving
Ounce for ounce, Swiss cheese provides more protein than
other commonly available varieties in the supermarket, making it a
muscle-friendly option for your sandwiches and burgers.
Need to Know: If
you're concerned about the calorie density of full-fat Swiss, low-fat versions
have a protein-to-fat ratio of around 8-to-1, while still providing good
flavor.
4. Eggs
Protein Power: 6
g per 1 large egg
These white orbs are near-perfect muscle food. That's
because the biological value—a measure of how much protein from the food can be
incorporated into proteins in the body—of an egg is higher than that of nearly
any other item in the grocery store. The biological value is largely dictated
by the amount of essential amino acids a food possesses, and the humble egg has
these in spades.
Need to Know: Keep
an eye out for cartons containing eggs with beefed-up omega-3 levels to make
your morning scramble work even harder for you.
5. Milk, 2%
Protein Power: 8
g per 1 cup serving
Moo juice remains a reliable source of top-notch protein
with a biological value just shy of that found in an egg. But why try to chug
watery, flavorless skim milk when you can still enjoy the richer taste of 2
percent without breaking the fat bank. Besides, the extra fat will help you
absorb the fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin D present in the great white.
Need to Know: Studies
show that cows raised using organic farming methods produce milk richer in a
range of nutrients, including body-friendly omega fats.
6. Whey
Protein
Protein Power: 24
g per scoop, on average
Whey protein is one of the cleanest, fastest-digesting
proteins on the market. It’s the pefect addition to any fat-loss or muscle-building
diet. Whey protein is low-calorie, fast-digesting, and perfect to take
immediately after a workout, first thing in the morning, or even alongside
low-protein meals!




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