WHY IS PROTEIN SO IMPORTANT FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Most of us are protein deficient.
There are a few reasons why getting the recommended amount of protein helps, specifically with weight management.
First, without adequate protein our bodies tell our system that we are “starved” of our required nutrients. When we don’t have enough protein/essential amino acids to feed our muscles, our body goes into starvation mode and releases a hormone which blocks our muscles from absorbing it, and therefore sends the nutrients to fat stores instead. It keeps telling us we are hungry, but can’t do anything with the food but store it because its not getting what it needs!
Therefore, by having the appropriate amount of protein, it gives our muscles what we need, and can then go on to use our fat stores as energy instead of making more fat!
Also, protein helps with the building of muscle, and the more muscle we have, the faster our metabolism is. Which is why post workout, it is even more highly recommended so that we can feed those muscles to get them to grow, so they can burn more of our fat while we sleep! When people are losing weight, they generally also lose muscle mass, so protein helps retain the muscle whilst losing the fat, and keeps their metabolism as effective as possible. Read more about The Importance of Post Workout Nutrition.
Protein absorption also uses more energy, as it takes longer for us to digest, again, boosting our metabolism and burning calories while we absorb it.
So by us getting enough protein, reduces cravings and promotes more of a feeling of satiety as it fixes our leptin resistance (the one I mentioned that tells our body we are hungry, cravings, but takes the food to the fat stores).
Some find it easier to supplement a little with a shake, as eating the correct amount of protein for us as individuals can be costly, and also a lot of food, if we aren’t used to it! This is why I have chosen to stock high quality, artificial free supplements to offer to my clients to help them reach their goals.