PACK IN THE PROTEIN!

How much, how often and best sources are the 3 questions most debated currently when it comes to protein foods and protein-rich extras.

Some experts suggest that there is generally too much protein in our diets (particularly in Western diets), others fear that many of us are protein-deficient and then there are those that do little other than cause confusion by hitting us with the rather complex biochemical principles of how proteins work within the body and we are more often than not, none the wiser. Here’s the way I see it right now but keep an eagle eye on my diet news as things may change and universal agreement may be a long way off! So for now, let’s look at what we know where protein levels, cell strength and improved health are concerned.

Protein is what holds us together and we need good levels on a daily basis to allow every single cell in our body and brain to repair and regenerate. Without it we suffer. If we are largely sedentary most days, exercise doesn’t play much of a role in our lives and we embark on a calorie-restricted diet we lose weight - if that is the goal - but way too often something like 20-30% of the weight lost is body weight rather than body fat and the loss of body weight means there is a strong chance we lose muscle. We may drop a dress/trouser size or two but we end up with skinny arms and legs and sagging skin and still have a fat belly which is likely not the look we are aiming for. We simply can’t afford to lose lean muscle mass, we must concentrate on preserving or gaining it.

A POUND OF MUSCLE WEIGHS THE SAME AS A POUND OF FAT BUT MUSCLE TAKES UP A LOT LESS ROOM THAN FAT SO NOT ONLY DO WE LOOK LEANER AND FITTER BUT WE ALSO FEEL STRONGER, HAVE MORE ENERGY AND ARE A GREAT DEAL MORE LIKELY TO LOSE EXCESS BODY FAT FASTER