March 3, 2009
Protein is important in our diet!
According to the Dietary Reference Intakes published by the USDA 10% – 35% of calories should come from protein. Most Americans should get 10%-35% of their calories from protein and should easily meet this need by consuming a balanced diet. Unfortunately, many people do not get the recommended amount of protein and might need to supplement.
Protein is needed for;
Growth (especially important for children, teens, and pregnant women) Growth and repair of muscles, bones, skin, tendons, ligaments, hair, eyes and tissues.
Immune function
Making essential hormones and enzymes
Energy when carbohydrate is not available
Preserving lean muscle mass
Protein is found in meats, poultry, fish, meat substitutes, cheese, milk, nuts, legumes, and in smaller quantities in starchy foods and vegetables.
When we eat these types of foods, our body breaks down the protein that they contain into amino acids (the building blocks of proteins).
Some amino acids are essential which means that we need to get them from our diet, and others are nonessential which means that our body can make them.
Protein that comes from animal sources contains all of the essential amino acids that we need. Plant sources of protein, on the other hand, do not contain all of the essential amino acids.
Are you getting enough protein? I think that sometimes protein gets a bad rap because we think about red meat like steak but as you can see there are so many other places that we can find protien, we just have to get creative.
Filed by Jeanette at 8:39 am under Pilates
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