A good, easy to use list of high protein foods may be more important than you realize.
There are people all around the world who don’t get enough protein. Protein malnutrition can lead to a condition (kwashiorkor) that causes growth failure in children, a weakened heart and respiratory system, loss of muscle mass, low immunity and even death.
But in the U.S. and other developed countries, most everyone manages to get enough protein. Becoming a vegetarians is no guarantee of a healthy diet. Vegetarians need to understand how to combine foods to enjoy a balance diet with enough protein. With plant-based diet so highly valued as protectors against chronic disease, one might imagine all vegetarians will be in excellent health.
While there is little question that vegetarians enjoy some advantages where chronic disease is concerned, quantifying this advantage is no simple task. However, although most people get enough protein, few get great quality and optimum amounts. This is because high levels of saturated fat come along with most of our modern protein choices, leading to obesity, diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
Much of your body is made up of protein, which is necessary for balanced hormones and the structure, growth, proper functioning and repair of all your 73 trillion living cells. The important factor about protein is not the quantity, it is the quality. The human body needs protein that will supply the essential amino acids needed for optimum health and wealth.
So it’s vitally important to get an optimum amount of the right kind of protein rich foods in your diet by paying close attention to the entire package in your protein food choices.
Optimum and Complete Protein Foods
Scientists say that the minimum daily requirement of protein (to avoid malnutrition and deficiency diseases) is 7 grams for every 20 pounds of body weight. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, you’d need a bare minimum of 53 grams of complete protein a day.
They also suggested that you need calcium to digest protein. And, if you’re not getting enough calcium, your body will leach it from your bone structure, causing weak bones.
The scientific rule of thumb for optimum protein intake is half your ideal body weight. This means that a person whose normal healthy weight is 150 pounds should ideally get 75 grams of complete protein instead of the minimum 53 grams. But what is most important is your metabolic type, each person metabolic system is different and their diet including protein should be tailored to individuals needs.
Complete protein has all 8 of the essential amino acids (9 are essential for children). Essential means your body can’t manufacture that amino acid.
Animal sources tend to be complete, while vegetable sources must be combined to provide the required balance. But even though fruits, vegetables, grains, beans and nuts are lacking or low in one or more of the essential amino acids, some combinations, when eaten together, make up a good complete protein. An excellent example is beans and brown rice.
Using Your List of High Protein Foods
Remember, it’s not the protein package alone that makes the difference to your health, there are about 50 essential factors the mind-body needs for optimum health.
For example, there is a need for vitamins and minerals and essential fatty acid, complex carbohydrates, water, clean air, sunlight, etc,. Use your list of high protein foods wisely and, without any downside, you’ll get all of the extraordinary health benefits that high quality protein foods can provide. Health guide, promote healthy life style.