Adequate protein is essential for health and performance. Protein consists of strings of amino acids, which are the building blocks of all tissue and structures in the body. From them, we make neurotransmitters and hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine (our ‘fight or flight’ hormones) and serotonin, dopamine and melatonin, which are essential for a healthy mood balance, sleep and digestion, amongst other things!
Eight of the amino acids that we derive from protein cannot be made in the body, and so, need to be included in sufficient amounts in the diet.
Protein also has a higher ‘thermic effect of feeding’ than either carbohydrates or fat. This means that you burn more calories because of eating protein foods compared to the same amount of either fat or carbohydrate.
Eating a higher protein diet is associated with lower body-fat levels and increased fat-free mass (muscle). Eating sufficient protein will also increase satiety (feelings of fullness) and encourage greater stability in blood sugar levels – leading to better energy levels and a lessened desire to overeat.
To ensure adequate protein intake, start by ensuring that every meal contains a serving of high-protein food. Good protein sources include grass-fed beef and lamb, poultry, free-range pork, eggs, fish and quality protein powders (see Nuzest Clean Lean Protein), or sprouted legumes, nuts and seeds, (especially if you are vegetarian.)
Use a palm-sized serve of meat, fish, poultry or a few eggs, or a liberal serving of sprouted legumes or nuts and seeds.
Find Nuzest Clean Lean Protein at Nutrition Store Online
Use a palm-sized serve of meat, fish, poultry or a few eggs, or a liberal serving of sprouted legumes or nuts and seeds
From Carb-Appropriate 101 by Cliff Harvey PhD
Carb-Appropriate 101 gives you 101 daily tips to help you achieve the energy, health & performance you deserve. It includes daily tips for nutrition, movement, exercise, meditation, mindfulness, sleep, stress-reduction, and more! These tips are some of the themes that Cliff has written and spoken about over his decades in practice, in ‘bite-sized’ mini-articles.
Read the book from cover-to-cover, applying a tip a day, or simply open the book to any page to find a valuable health and performance tip to help you feel and perform at your very best.
