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Why Protein is Essential for Your Diet

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at TCNJ chapter.

If you’re trying to lose weight, get healthy, or just looking for ways to stay full, this ones for you! Protein is essential for everyone, not only those trying to meet exercise goals of achieving their dream body. Protein is one of the most important aspects of the five types of foods included in our diet. It is recommended that women our age receive about 46g of protein or more each day, and men receive 56g or more. Eating enough protein will help you lose weight and make healthier food choices. 

 

When I first started working out, I spent hours at the gym lifting weights, going on the treadmill, and doing many exercises just to see no results. Little did I know having an apple or a bag of chips was not a good post-workout snack. I then discovered the power of protein and have been seeing results ever since.  

 

For starters, protein is the building block of body tissue and helps you gain muscle and keeps you satiated! It helps you stay full longer, which in turn helps you avoid random unhealthy snacks. If you’ve been working out for months and failing to see results, try to up your protein intake. Here are a few more reasons why protein is so important:

 

  1. Muscle Recovery – Having a protein shake or a protein snack post-workout is so vital for recovery, and it helps repair the muscles you broke down during your workout. 

  2. Stabilizes Blood sugar level 

  3. It helps you digest better. 

  4. Higher energy 

  5. Oxygenates your body – Protein in red blood cells help carry the oxygen to all parts of your body

 

Yes, protein is this powerful! It doesn’t get better than this! Your decision is whether or not you choose to include more protein in your diet, but I wouldn’t be reaping the benefits so heavily unless it worked for me! Go ahead and give it a try; you won’t be disappointed.

Anvi is a Senior Biology major! She is a succulent and cacti enthusiast who advocates for all things health and wellness. You can find her online shopping, drinking protein shakes or hanging out with her friends :)