Health Benefits Of Protein
If you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle for a while, chances are, you’ve realized that maintaining a well-balanced diet is half the battle. You can spend all day exercising and trying new things, but without a healthy diet, you’ll never reach your maximum potential. Although your body needs a number of nutrients to operate at its best, protein is one that should be top priority among fitness lovers. When you hear the word “protein,” you probably think of muscle building. And although that is one of the benefits of protein, it’s certainly not the only. In this blog, we’re going to talk about all the benefits of protein, so keep reading to learn more.
Increasing muscle mass
Okay, let’s start off with what everyone is familiar with already, the fact that protein helps build muscle mass. Once you consume a healthy source of protein, your stomach breaks it down into peptides. Your body uses these chains of amino acids to repair muscle fibers. This is why it’s important to get a decent dose of protein right before and after you work out, and generally throughout the day if you want to maximize muscle growth. Consuming protein before and after a workout can also increase muscle recovery, muscle synthesis, treating muscle aches, and it’s better for your overall performance.
Weight management
Although there are a lot of things that can affect how quickly or slowly you lose weight, protein is a major contributor to increasing the rate at which you lose weight. One of the major benefits of protein is that it increases satiety. What this means is that you’ll feel fuller quicker by eating a high-protein diet. When people get hungry, they tend to consume carbohydrates in more condensed forms leading to overeating and weight gain. Eating something high in protein will help to kick this urge and make you feel more full throughout the day. Try eating a healthy heaping of eggs in the morning and see if you aren’t more likely to reach for a salad or something else light for lunch and dinner.
Another way that protein helps with weight management is through increased muscle mass. Since high protein diets lead to more muscle growth and muscle tissue burns more calories, you’ll be burning fat much quicker.
Managing blood sugar
Fluctuating blood glucose levels is a big problem for a lot of people. If your blood glucose levels are changing constantly, you may feel fatigued or light headed often. The great news is that protein will actually help to fight this. Our bodies need insulin, a type of hormone that helps to metabolize fats, protein, and carbs. However, carbs need the most insulin.
Diets high in protein will help your body to slow the rate at which sugar is absorbed after a meal. This process helps to prevent type II diabetes by preventing major spikes in your body’s blood sugar levels. It can also help you maintain your energy levels and appetite.
Brain function
In order for your brain to focus, maintain high energy, and function properly, it needs a steady stream of amino acids. Protein-rich foods will increase the production of hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters that are all important for the function of our cognitive system. Choline, commonly found in egg yolk, helps prevent birth defects and is an important part of fetal brain development. It helps with the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles in adults as well.
Improve appearance
Protein can also go a long way to improve the health of your skin and hair. By improving the support of various tissues in your body such as your skin and hair, you’ll look younger, longer. Collagen is one of the proteins that have a major effect on skin and hair tissues. Higher levels of collagen in the body will prevent wrinkles or sagging skin. Egg white can even be applied directly to the skin or hair with egg white face pack to condition and tighten pores.
Contact Fitness Specialists
Maintaining a healthy diet is only half the battle when it comes to being healthy. Fitness Specialists will help you build your own in-home gym in Odessa, Lubbock, Amarillo and the surrounding area. Contact us today to learn more about our exercise equipment.