John Harris, Life Transformations Personal Trainer shares info on Protein. Read up! As you begin reading, try and begin to understand that protein is part of every single cell, tissue and organ in our body! Proteins act as building blocks for muscles and, alongside, calcium and vitamin D, is important for strong bones. You can think of protein as providing the building blocks needed to maintain and repair or recover muscle tissue, organs and other parts of the body! The proteins in your body are continually broken down and then replaced. When we eat protein, it is digested into amino acids, which, are used to build and replace those proteins that have been broken down. Nine of the amino acids in protein are essential amino acids – this means your body cannot make these amino acids on its own and so you must get them from a dietary source. While protein needs will vary by age, activity level and health, the recommended amount can be based off of body weight. Looking for lower fat options (for a lower total calorie intake) you can eat high protein meals and consume nearly 1g for each pound you weigh! This helps keep your numbers easy to follow and is a general guideline. More information can always check out the USDA website and they can help you calculate the amount of protein you would need daily! For more Trainer Tips visit our News Blog on our website. |