The Importance of Protein in Every Meal
Do you know that protein is immensely important for our bodies, since it plays a crucial role in building and repairing our cells and tissues? Besides that, proteins support diverse functions in our body, like regulating our body processes through hormones, transporting molecules, and hence, provide the structural framework and functional support necessary for overall health and survival.
They also contribute to immune responses by forming antibodies and maintaining fluid balance. Given their wide-ranging roles, it’s very important to ensure your body gets adequate protein intake through a balanced diet. Unfortunately, a large population’s staple diet does not contain an adequate amount of protein. Even the people who are focused on improving their diet by increasing protein intake do not fully understand what type of protein is actually helpful. We are writing this blog post to educate people about the importance of protein in their meals, talk about normal weight obesity, and explain how to make smart dietary choices. Let’s get started!
Why is protein a must in your diet?
Protein is one of the three essential macronutrients. Many people mistakenly believe that proper protein intake is just for athletes or people trying to build muscle. This is a misconception. Protein is essential for everyone, regardless of age, activity level, or body type. Because every single cell in your body needs protein.
Here’s why it matters so much in your everyday life:
Supports Lean Muscle
It does not matter whether you work out or not; your body still needs protein to maintain healthy muscle mass. Muscles don’t just give you strength, but they also play a very important role in supporting your metabolism. They keep our body composition in check.
Keeps You Feeling Full
Ever had a meal and felt hungry again after an hour? That’s your body’s way of telling you the diet was not sufficient. It tells that your diet is probably low in protein. Carbohydrates that everyone normally relies on for their staple just give you an instant energy spike and wear off fast. That’s why you also require protein to fulfil your body’s need to sustain energy.
Muscle Mass and Strength
The protein in your diet provides amino acids to the body that help it repair the muscles and build muscle fibres. This leads to an increase in muscle mass, size, and strength. Without protein, our body starts lacking the raw material to support muscle repair and growth, which can result in weakness and fatigue. Lack of protein in the diet can cause muscles to waste away, which can give rise to conditions like atrophy as the body starts to break down muscle tissue for energy.
Supports Bone Health
Proteins are vital to form a collagen matrix that supports tissue engineering and regeneration. Formation of the collagen matrix is essential for calcium absorption and the production of insulin-like growth factor. Both these are key mediators of bone health and formation.
Signs your body is not getting enough protein
Do you know you should get 10% of your daily calories from protein? And you need this amount from a variety of sources throughout the day. But unfortunately, we don’t plan our diets like that, which can lead to protein deficiency in the body. Here are some protein deficiency signs to watch out for:
Edema
It is a condition where you start developing puffy skin. This is often caused by fluid retention due to low protein levels in the body. Protein is really important to maintain fluid balance. Protein plays a crucial role in attracting and holding onto water molecules that can prevent fluid retention. When you don’t get enough protein, fluid can start accumulating in the tissues, and it leads to swelling, especially around the ankles, feet, and legs. If you notice these signs in your body, it’s high time you started learning ways to improve your diet.
Fatigue
When you don’t consume enough protein, your energy levels can take a hit. Protein is involved in many processes that help produce energy in your body. For example, they help transport oxygen in the blood and ensure the proper functioning of enzymes. That’s why not getting enough protein can result in overall fatigue and sluggishness because your body isn’t getting the fuel it needs to run efficiently.
Hair, Skin, and Nail Issues
Protein is a major component of hair, skin, and nails. If you notice thinning hair, brittle nails, or dull, dry skin, it could be a sign that your protein intake isn’t up to par. Hair loss or stunted hair growth, in particular, can often be a direct result of a lack of protein in your diet. Since your body prioritizes vital organs, it diverts the protein you consume to keep your organs functioning, and less is available for things like hair and skin health.
Weak Immune System
Proteins are essential for creating antibodies and other immune system components that help protect you from infections. When your diet is lacking in protein, your immune system becomes compromised, leaving you more vulnerable to illnesses. This can lead to frequent colds, infections, and a longer recovery time from injuries or illnesses.
Slower Healing Process
Whether you are recovering from an injury, surgery, or illness, protein plays a key role in tissue repair. Without enough protein, your body’s ability to heal itself slows down. This is because our muscles, healing properties, cells, tissues, and bones are being supported by proteins. So if your wounds take longer to heal and recovery times for illnesses or surgeries are also taking longer, that could mean you are not getting enough protein from your diet.
Normal Weight Obesity
Many people associate obesity with excess weight or visible fat. However, normal weight obesity refers to individuals who may appear to be a healthy weight on the outside but have a high percentage of body fat and low muscle mass.
This is a common problem that many people tend to ignore, as they look healthy, but reality is not exactly the same. When you don’t get sufficient protein and start relying on carbs and fats for energy needs, it can contribute to an unhealthy body composition, even if your weight seems normal. You might end up developing metabolism-related disorders. The good news is you can avoid all this by adding more protein in your meals and building lean muscle.
Smart Protein Choices for a Balanced Diet
Eating healthy sounds easy in theory, but in real life, it gets confusing. One day it’s all about cutting carbs, the next it’s high protein, then suddenly you are supposed to track every calorie. It’s a lot.
That’s exactly why we created the APEX31 Day program. It takes the stress out of eating right and helps you build a balanced plate without overthinking it. Our focus is on making sure that you are getting enough protein, along with the right mix of veggies, fruits, and healthy fats.
Through the program, you get meal plans based on your goals, your routine, and what kind of foods you actually enjoy eating. That means the plan will be really easy to follow. We don’t have not-so-easily-available ingredients or complicated recipes on our plan. Just real food that fits into your lifestyle. With us, you will also learn what smart protein choices look like. We promise you will find the right in your kitchen or at your local store. So if you’re tired of overthinking your meals or jumping from one diet trend to the next, give this a shot. Build real habits, eat in a way that supports your goals, and actually enjoy your food.