If there is ONE thing that I would recommend for everyone to do in their diet for overall good health…it would be to include sufficient protein in your daily diet.
That doesn’t mean to go and binge on artificial protein bars and shakes or fill your entire plate with meat…but to make sure your diet is balanced and that means including protein in each meal.
Why protein is so important for our health?
* Protein forms the building blocks to all structures in our body, including our skin, hair, nails, hormones and immune system, to name just a few. So without sufficient protein in our diet, you will see various health issues arise.
* Protein increases satiety, keeping us fuller for longer, so vital for any healthy diet to avoid overeating.
* Builds lean muscle mass which is needed for healthy bones, energy production and our metabolism.
* Supports healthy insulin function (stabilises blood sugar levels), curbing sugar cravings.
How much protein a day?
The average recommendation is 0.8-1g of protein per kg of your body weight (e.g. 60kg woman should consume approx 48-60g of protein a day). This amount does vary depending on your physical activity requirements or fitness goals.
Protein foods
120g lean chicken or red meat = 20g protein
100g fish = 25g
100g canned tuna = 25g
1 cup cottage cheese = 20g
1 egg = 4g
1 small tub natural yoghurt = 13g
25g raw almonds = 10g
Did you know…
Eating 2 eggs for breakfast has shown to increase weight loss by 65% compared to a purely carbohydrate breakfast like toast.
