I’m not about to give you a technical lesson on the importance of protein. I’ve sat through quite a few biology lessons to know what impact a lecture has on the attention span, not to mention focus level!
However, I think that it is pretty crucial for you to understand the importance of protein. You’ve read my articles where I strongly advised having lots of lean, white meat on top of fruits and vegetables, fibre and so on.
In my write-up about healthy eating guidelines, I’ve talked about how to have a balanced diet.
What Does Protein Do For You?
Every single cell, tissue and muscle in your body contains protein and the paramount importance of protein is that it helps carry out the various processes in the body. Without protein, cells will die!
On a fitness level, proteins are responsible for repairing of muscle and bone tissues. Every minute spent on exercising, your muscles and bones will experience some wear and tear, and it is thanks to protein that they can be repaired.
Hence, a diet that contains lots of healthy proteins is crucial to ensure that you can recover faster after every workout. However, this does not mean that you overeat and take in too much meats as it will be unhealthy.
Moderation is key.
A combination of a healthy diet together with exercise is also the key to looking good and healthy. Supple skin, bright eyes and beautiful hair is a result of a diet rich in protein, while working out regularly.
People usually neglect one or both. They either refuse to exercise but gorge on various protein supplements or use skin products. Or they might exercise but not have a balanced diet.
Exercise helps the body absorb the protein and other nutrients. Therefore, you might be aware of the importance of protein, but if you do not make a conscious effort to exercise, you will not be able to enjoy the benefits that it can provide.
Vegans At Risk?
Now, I’m no nutritionist, but based on my understanding of fitness and nutrition, backed by scientific evidence, vegetarians are at risk of a lack of proteins.
After reading what I have written so far, you can tell that there is a significant amount of importance of this nutrient to your health and wellness. Vegetarians face the risk of having a diet that is lacking this critical nutrient.
Therefore, try to have more of the following to help boost your protein intake:
- Eggs and other dairy products (if you are not suffering from lactose intolerance)
- Tofu
- Soy milk
- Nuts and seeds
This is not an exhaustive list of course, but the safest bet would be to have more nuts, grains and dairy products, if you are capable of taking them.
Final Words
I hope that you are now aware of how important protein is and why you should have a protein-rich diet every day. However, do not get carried away and overeat and that would be counterproductive.
Have a balanced diet and eat everything in moderation. Exercise regularly, engage in sports and have a strong social circle. You will be living life to the fullest, in a meaningful, fulfilling manner.