Protein is probably one of the most important parts of the diet  to consider - Especially for weight loss!

Most People think they only need to eat protein if they are looking to build lots of muscle!

In truth your body needs protein in order to function.

All protein whether from plant or animal source are composed of amino acids and this is what your body needs. Amino acids are the building blocks of your body, they are used to build and repair cells in your body. Some are naturally produced in the body, but there are 8 essential amino acids that you can only get into the body via external sources (food).

The only way to get enough amino acids into the body is to eat quality sources of protein at every meal. Active people need as much as 1g of protein per 0.5kgs of lean tissue (muscle) per day. So if you weighed 70kgs you would need 35g protein per day.

An athlete or elite sports person would need as much as 2g of protein per kg of body weight.

Eating protein also reduces your appetite and increases calorie burning and is one of the most effective weapons against fat as it stimulates the release of glucagon (blood sugar controlling hormone). The production of glucagon counters the production of insulin (which is produced when we eat carbohydrates), which creates a hormonal balance that evens out blood sugar levels. This stops the feeling of sleepiness after meals and reduces cravings for carbohydrates.

High Quality protein are low in saturated fat, contain good amount of amino acids and are easy to digest. Some of the best sources of high quality protein are skinless chicken breast, turkey breast, fish, lean cuts of red meat, egg whites, low fat cottage cheese , cheese, low fat cheese, protein powder, beans, lentils & soya products.

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