Protein: The Bare Essential
There’s a common problem among gymgoers: They simply are not chowing enough protein. If you’ve ever questioned your own gym progress or wonder why you’re not feeling optimal, you need to take a look at how much protein you’re eating.
Protein is the fundamental building block of life. Every organic creature contains protein which is why it should be the first thing to consider in your everyday nutrition.
Reasons Why Protein is Important
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Growth & Repair
Your body uses protein to build and repair tissues in not only your muscles, but also your bones, skin and hair.
If you haven’t looked at the science of muscle building, essentially what you’re doing in the gym is causing “micro-tears” in your muscles. Recovery means patching up these tears and rebuilding the muscles, making them grow stronger and bigger.
But where do you get the materials to rebuild? - From chowing protein bro! -
Satiety and Weight Management
Ever eat a meat and an hour later you get hungry agaim and start looking for your next snack? That’s probably because you haven’t eaten enough protein.
Protein-rich meas take longer to digest, leaving you fuller for longer. Additionally, if you’re trying to cut (lose weight), protein helps your body retain muscle mass when calories are sparse.
The answer to being snatched or jacked isn’t salads, it’s PROTEIN. -
Immune Health
Your body contains cells call antibodies and T-cells. These little ouens are big fighters for your health. They identify viruses or bacteria in your body and get rid of them.
What are these cells made of? You guessed it: Protein.
So, having enough protein not only builds muscles, but keeps you healthy.
Less sick days = More time in the gym -
Hormone Balance
Hormones are chemical messengers in your body that help parts of your talk to each other. A lot of important hormones are made up of proteins, and you’ve probably heard about them:- Insulin: This hormone tells your body to absorb glucose (sugar) into cells, instead of leaving them in your bloodstream (this is when you’ll hear people say, “My sugar is high.”)
- Glucagon: A hormone that tells the liver to break down the glucose it stores when you need energy.
-hGH (human Growth Hormone): This hormone stimulates the growth of muscles, bones and a lot of your internal organs - in simple terms, it helps make gains.
- Insulin: This hormone tells your body to absorb glucose (sugar) into cells, instead of leaving them in your bloodstream (this is when you’ll hear people say, “My sugar is high.”)
I’ve simplified these points a lot, so if you’re interested in taking a deeper look at the functions of protein, check out this article by ‘healthline’.
How Much Protein do You Need?
A lot more than you think.
It all comes down to various factors, such as your gender, weight, height, activity level and fitness goals.
Trying to maintain your weight? You need enough to do so.
Trying to build muscle? You need a lot more.
Long story short, I’ve built a daily protein calculator based on science to tell you how much protein you should aim for based on all of your factors. You can play around with it by clicking here to get a personalised daily target based on your stats and goals.
