Why we need protein

Why Protein Is A Must For Success

Looking to improve your diet? If so, you need to start focusing on your protein intake. Far too many people, especially women, are not currently getting enough protein in their daily diet and this is really going to come back to hurt the overall progress you see. 

Protein is a building block that helps repair and build body tissues, and is vital for immune function and the production of hormones and neurotransmitters. 

Protein And Hunger 

The first reason to consume more protein in your diet is because protein is the most hunger-busting nutrient there is. This nutrient is going to take more time to digest and break down than carbohydrates, so will keep you fuller longer. Therefore instant and long term satiation.

Those who consume diets higher in protein naturally eat fewer calories overall, allowing them to see faster rates of fat loss progress. 

Protein And The Thermic Effect Of Food 

The next reason why protein is so important is because it’s an energy costly nutrient to break down. This means that the body will actually expend more energy just digesting it, meaning you net fewer calories overall. 

For every 100 calories of protein you eat, you’ll burn off around 20-30 of those calories just through digestion alone. 

If you eat 100 calories of carbohydrates or dietary fats on the other hand, you only burn off 5 and 2 calories respectively. As you can see, this is quite the difference and will really add up over the course of the day. 

Protein And Muscle Mass 

Finally, the last reason that you should be eating more protein in your daily diet is because it’ll help you maintain your lean muscle mass as well. If you’re on a reduced calorie diet, there is a greater chance that your body may start using some protein up as a fuel source, meaning there is less left over to support your lean muscle tissues. 

At the end of the day, this could result in lean muscle mass loss, which causes you to grow weaker and suffer a slower metabolic rate. 

Your protein needs go up when dieting, not down. 

So as you can see, you must consume sufficient protein. Aim for at least one gram per pound of body weight per day if not slightly more for best results. 

Again, this is person dependent and will vary depending on a range of factors such as Menopause. This is a guide.

MALE: 150 to 250 g of raw weight per meal.

FEMALE: 75 to 150 g of raw weight per meal.

Another way to calculate protein is; 1.8-2.2 g per kg of body weight per day.

I will being doing another blog on perimenopause and menopause