Protein
Protein is a macronutrient made up of carbon hydrogen and oxygen plus nitrogen.
Protein is used by the body for repair and maintenance so if you eat insufficient amounts of protein or intake poor quality protein then the structure of you bones, muscles, teeth, blood and skin will be affected.
Protein provides our bodies with animo acids which are used in the building and maintainence of mucles. 22 amino acids form human protein:
Most people automatically think of meats as the best source of protein but for high quality protein with low fat the best protein sources are beans and pulses such as:
Soya beans
Kidney beans
Lentils
The biggest problem with using meat as a source of protein are the levels of fat found in these products, for example:
| Average /100g | Protein (g) | Fat (g) |
| Egg Whites | 9 | 0 |
| Tuna | 24 | 1 |
| Chicken breast (skinless) | 26 | 4 |
| Pork Loin (roasted) | 23 | 29 |
| Cheddar cheese | 26 | 35 |
Bodybuilders will often use protein supplements to aid muscle gain but excess protein will be converted to fat so it is important to research your eating plan before you start to use supplements. The liver can only cope with certain amounts of protein per meal.
To ensure you are eating the right amounts of protein for your lifestyle request your nutritional analysis/eating plan today!