Sources of Protein
Which ones will give you an
optimal level of health?
It's safe to say that health supplements provide the best sources of protein. If you remember playing with Lego, you have an understanding of how protein works. It is often described as the building blocks of your body. Protein helps build and repair your muscle and body tissue. It makes up a large portion of your entire body and is found in almost every part.
Talking about protein reminds me of the story of the three little pigs
If you recall the story, the three little pigs were given some good advice from their mother. She said: "Whatever you do, do it the best that you can because that's the way to get along in the world.”The first little pig built his house out of straw and was eaten by the wolf. The second little pig was a bit smarter, and built his house out of sticks, but was also eaten by the big bad wolf. But the third pig built his house out of bricks and survived. At the end of the story the mother reminded her little pig that: "The way to get along in the world is to do things as well as you can." When it comes to your health, this is some excellent advice.... What I mean by this is that quality matters :)
So how does this apply to the sources of protein?.... Well, if your body was a house, protein would be the bricks, and amino acids would be the cement. To build a strong house you need quality materials. To build a strong body you need quality protein. Protein can be found in meat, dairy products and vegetables.
- beef
- chicken
- fish
- eggs
- cottage cheese
- soy
- vegetables
These are what we consider good sources of protein.... The straw and stick houses....
If we want the best sources of proteins, the strong brick houses, we turn to health supplements
This certainly does not mean that natural sources of proteins are not important. I may have exaggerated a bit with the straw and stick houses :) It is always important to maintain a healthy diet with natural food. Supplements will never replace a good healthy diet, but they do have certain benefits over natural food. Health supplements provide the best sources of protein because they are easy to consume, they are relatively cheap compared to other sources, and they supply a high amount of quality protein per serving. Protein supplements are here to provide optimal levels of health. Your natural diet should still be providing you the foundation of nutrition that you need.
Whey Protein
When it comes to sources of protein, Whey Protein tops the list. It’s the best supplement for building and maintaining muscle. It’s the most popular supplement among bodybuilders and athletes around the world. Everyone can benefit from whey protein, especially if they’re doing some sort of exercise.
Whey protein facts
When to take whey protein
Whey protein side effects
How to gain weight with whey protein
Soy Protein Many years ago I used to think soy protein was a supplement for women and vegetarians :( After doing a little bit of research I found out that I wasn’t alone. In the bodybuilding world it got a lot of bad press and was considered less powerful than whey protein. Fortunately for soy supplements, research has concluded that it is just as effective as whey protein, and may have some extra benefits. If you’re lactose intolerant it is a great supplement for you.
Is soy protein whey's little sister?
Soy protein powder - An expert's view
MRP Meal Replacement Products Meal replacement products are not just sources of proteins. Certain products are known to contain: essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, creatine, fiber etc. Meal replacement powders are a good source of protein but are not purely protein.
Meal replacement products - Are they the best?
Amino Acids and BCAA’s Branched Chained Amino Acids Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. These are some of the most beneficial supplements that have been around for a long time. The only problem is that a lot of people don’t know about them. It might be a marketing issue, but they are nowhere near as popular as other protein supplements... But, they are just as important.
Protein Pills
Protein bars
Protein bars make a great snack when you’re on the go. I’m always happy if I remember to pack one if I’m traveling or in a rush. There’s nothing worse then going hungry and having to resort to unhealthy choices.
They’re really convenient and some of them pack a lot of protein. However, they should not replace a meal with natural food or a protein shake.
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Sources of Protein Related Pages
List of high protein foods
Use this list of high protein foods to help you include some protein in all your meals. This is a quick list of some of the many protein alternatives.
Protein substitutes for meat
Meat is clearly not the only source of protein. Health supplements are the number one substitute but there are many others.
Daily protein requirement
The rule of thumb which makes it very easy to follow is 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. So if you weigh 200 lbs, you should consume 200 grams of protein per day.
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