As many of you know, at the Dubail Fitness Institute, we stress protein, protein, and more protein. Protein is stressed because in most cases, protein is dramatically under eaten in people’s diets. Here are 4 reasons protein should be included in your diet in at least 4 meals a day.
Protein helps build muscle.
When a person exercises, their muscle tissue is broken down. This is called catabolism. Later, the muscle is rebuilt. This is called anabolism. Without significant protein the body can not repair it’s muscle, meaning you will lose muscle. And if you lose muscle that will slow down your metabolism.
Protein in your meal increases your metabolism
After a person eats a meal, their metabolic rate increases. This is because as the body digests it absorbs the storage of food. Studies show that a high carbohydrate meal increases your metabolic rate 4%, while a high protein meal increases the metabolism up 30%.
Protein builds your immune system
Protein makes antibodies, which fight disease. Studies show that people who do not take in enough protein have a weakened resistance to bacterial invasion.
Protein does the body good
Protein is required to build new cells. The human body is constantly repairing itself. When you wash your face, cut your nails or hair, protein helps repair the skin and causes new growth in the hair and nails. This applies to ligaments and tendons as well.
At the Dubail Fitness Institute we recommend that an active person take in 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight. To find out how much protein you should be eating, check with David.
Be sure to check out my web site for proper protein sources.