There’s a lot of talk left and right about protein— “Make sure you get enough protein!” “Eat your protein!” Yet, while many people may know they should eat more protein, less of them know why.
The truth is that eating your protein is not just some rule you’re supposed to follow because the health experts told you to. The truth is that protein is an essential part of maintaining your overall health and maintaining a healthy weight.
Increasing the amount of protein you eat in a day can offer all sorts of benefits beyond just “keeping your protein up.” If you’re curious to know how eating more protein can change your life, here’s what you can expect.
Increased Muscle Growth
A lot of people may think that if they eat too much protein they may bulk up. If you’re looking to slim down, this is obviously the opposite effect you’re looking for. However, maintaining muscle and building muscle is an important part of staying healthy as you age.
Protein helps build and repair muscle, prevent muscle loss the older that you get, and ultimately improve your strength and endurance.
Even though you may not be an athlete, no one wants to get winded from carrying groceries up the stairs. Increasing your strength and endurance is a good thing regardless of how often you go to the gym.
Weight Management
Unfortunately, many people start to gain weight as they get older, and as such they can start to feel their knees, and hips starting to give way. Excess weight is no fun, not to mention we don’t always feel our best when we feel overweight.
One simple way to keep your weight in check is by increasing the amount of protein you eat. For one, protein helps you feel full for a longer time.
Since it takes longer for your body to break down and burn protein, your body will for a longer amount of time, dissuading you from snacking and reducing your overall calorie intake. Protein also boosts your metabolism, as breaking down protein requires more energy. Lastly, protein helps preserve your lean muscle mass while also losing fat which is why it’s such an important component in most weight loss plans.
Improved Bone Health
Recently, there have been myths surrounding protein and bone health. Contrary to these common myths, increasing your protein intake can lead to stronger bones and enhance your overall calcium absorption.
In other words, you can significantly reduce the risk of osteoporosis, and improve your overall skeletal health. If you can manage to eat a high-protein diet that also includes plenty of vitamin D and calcium, then you can be almost certain to improve your bone health and become less prone to fractures and other bone-related injuries.
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