The Health Benefits
Proteins, these long chains of amino acids, are indispensable for all metabolic processes. Consuming enough protein every day provides a host of health benefits. Among other things, it boosts healthy brain function and learning, aids with maintaining strong bones, protects heart health, slows aging, and helps with longevity.
Boosts Healthy Brain Function and Learning
Proteins are necessary in order to make enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters – all crucial for cognitive function. The brain needs a number of amino acids to perform at its best – concentration, focus, and energy-wise.
Aids with Maintaining Strong Bones
When we eat enough protein from good-quality, whole, nutrient-rich foods, this supports the prevention of bone weakness, fractures, and also osteoporosis by enhancing calcium absorption and aiding with bone metabolism.
Protects Heart Health
As mentioned in the previous post, when we consume foods with enough protein, it increases satiety to a greater extent, along with having a minimal effect on blood glucose levels – it can actually slow down the absorption of sugar during a meal. This aids with preventing heart disease-related causes such as diabetes and obesity.
Slows Aging and Helps with Longevity
High-protein foods aid the body synthesize glutathione, the “master antioxidant.” Glutathione, found in our cells, aids with detox and with lessening carcinogens that age us.
In older adults, amino acid deficiencies can eventually give rise to eye problems like cataracts, heart problems, muscle loss, weakness, and mood changes.
In Summary
Making sure to consume enough protein-rich foods is of primordial importance if we want to maintain a healthy body weight, increase muscle mass, support strong bones, and preserve high cognitive and immune functions.
Stabilizing our blood sugar levels and bettering our mood go hand and in hand with keeping our energy levels up. Protein intake also impacts our heart health and how well we may age.
All you have left to do is to see how much protein is ideal for you to consume depending on your body weight, gender, age, and level of activity or exercise. And don’t forget to ask your personal physician for advice!
Until next time!
Reference
Dr. Josh Axe. “23 High-Protein Foods (for Weight Loss and Muscle Gain).” Dr. Axe, 6 Apr. 2021, draxe.com/nutrition/protein-foods/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2021.
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