Whats the big deal about Protein anyway?
Protein is one of the single most important nutrients to help us lose weight and build muscle.
So what is it?
Protein is one of the three macronutrients of protein, carbohydrates and fat. All three of these play big roles in helping our body to function and perform. The protein that we ingest is broken down into amino acids which aid in our immune system, muscle and tissue repair and are in your DNA.
Protein is a valuable macronutrient that can aid us in our nutrition by helping with weight loss and muscle gain.
So how does it do that?
- Reduces Appetite and Hunger Levels and saves calories
Protein is a harder macronutrient to break down. So, when we increase our protein levels at each meal it can help us to feel fuller longer. This leaves us feeling satisfied for hours and not reaching for a snack shortly after lunch. This overall can help us to save calories in the long run by filling up on good proteins at each meal - It requires more energy!
The chemical makeup of protein molecules is the most complicated to break down. So when we eat protein we are using more energy to break it down. Compared to our Carbohydrates and Fats, protein burns more calories to break down. Having enough protein coming in from your diet helps burn fat while preserving calorie-burning lean muscle. - It Promotes Muscle Growth/Repair
Protein is imperative to ensure that all of our tissues are running in top shape. This includes all of bodies cells, our muscles and even our brains! When any of our muscles or tissues are damages from either a good workout or injury protein is the first macronutrient to help repair and rebuild. This helps our whole body since protein is an part of every cell in the body.
This blog was written by our Nutrition Coach Heather Blosser