It goes without saying protein is important to nearly every aspect of your body. Most people think of muscles, or even hair and nails, but it is part of every cell of your body. It regulates brain chemicals, helping to make you feel more alert throughout the day. It makes up all of your organs(and I know your heart your heart). That is why it is critical that you eat enough of this powerful building block as part of your balanced diet.
Where do you get it? Almost all foods have some amount of it, along with carbohydrates and fats. But there are significant levels of amino acids in dairy, eggs, meats, poultry, soy, beans, and nuts. Some people use supplements to boost their intake if they find they are not getting enough from food. This is not typically necessary unless you are a bodybuilder or you have an aversion to the best sources of this necessary nutrient.
While it is important to get enough, you don’t want to get too much. Most women would need about 50-70 grams per day (more if pregnant). Men may need slightly higher levels (up to 100 grams in most circumstances). Some people go overboard. “If a little is good, then a lot must be even better!” This is not so, and consuming too much of a good thing can cause some serious problems for your body. Much of it will have to be broken down into something else (glucose or fatty acids), and the leftovers have to be filtered out of the body. This is very hard on the kidneys so don’t do it.
Eating right is as simple as including a good source of protein, along with some carbohydrates, every time you have a meal or snack. Yogurt, nuts, and cheese all make convenient snack additions. Of course, beef, chicken, or fish at meals provide a substantial source at meals. It is easy to get what you need throughout the day. Believe me, your body will thank you for it.
