Proteins-much do you need in your diet for proper nutrition?

The old “Pink Floyd” song begs the question; “How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?” How true this really is. Protein is the basis of the human diet. It provides the components for maintenance and repair of many structures in your body as well as the ingredients for all of your enzymes. In fact you can live off of quality protein and a little fat, no carbs necessary! Many people don’t get nearly enough of this essential building block of life.

The World Health Organization says a person needs 30 grams a day to maintain health. This is a MINIMUM daily requirement, your body functions much more efficiently with a higher intake.
                                                                                                                                                                         Well then, how much should a person be eating? This will vary depending on your weight and activity level, but in general 100 grams or more a day is a good baseline. Heavier individuals and athletes may require even more, up to 1 gram per pound of body weight a day! This can be difficult to achieve. A full pound of ground beef has roughly 80 grams of protein in it. How many people eat even that much? Well, I do, but that is a whole other story. I find it easiest to eat a good portion of meat with every meal, and supplement with protein powders.
                                                                                                                                                                    So what sources are the best? Animal products provide by far the most complete and bio available proteins. As a benefit, wild caught fish and grass fed animals are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. It is possible to get enough protein from plant sources, but it is much more difficult. Non-animal proteins include rice, quinoa, yellow pea, and soy. However, many people now suggest you stay away from soy, as it can interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption.
Diet is the foundation of health. If you aren’t giving your body the basic components it needs to function, any number of problems can arise. So, as Hanna Kroeger used to say, “Eat your meat!”

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What are you really eating? Learn how to use the nutrition facts to get in on hidden ingredients.

Nutrition Data is a great resource to use when writing your grocery list, planning dinner, or to help you choose healthier alternatives to improve your lifestyle.  What we put into our bodies everyday is important in order to give us sufficient nutrients so that we can perform at the highest level at whatever we are doing.  Take advantage of having a website such as this to help us make those healthier decisions at the grocery store and in your everyday life.

One of the features I really like is the nutrient search tool, which allows you to search for foods that contain or are high in certain nutrients and are low in other nutrients.  Another interesting feature is the tracking software which you can use to track your intake and help you attain your goal whether it is to eat healthier, incorporate more of a specific nutrient into your diet or weight loss.

Take a look around the site and see how you can benefit from knowing what you are eating and how you can improve your daily intake.

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