When you first decide to start training, you might be overwhelmed with all of the available information out there. Especially when it comes to protein, nutrients & diet.
With so many buzzwords being thrown around in the fitness industry constantly, you may be left wondering what it all means. If so, the Steve Vince blog is here to help you understand your body and how it operates.
In this post, we’ll be discussing protein, what it is, how it works on your body and the importance of protein in your diet when training.
What is Protein in Foods?
As you will be aware, our bodies need certain nutrients to work effectively and efficiently at keeping us alive. These nutrients can be broken down into two separate groups, macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients.
Micro-nutrients are nutrients that are needed in small amounts in order for organisms to survive. Examples of micro-nutrients include calcium and potassium.
Macro-nutrients, on the other hand, are essential nutrients that are required to be a larger percentage of an organisms diet. Protein is classified as a macro-nutrient.
So, it definitely plays a key role in the human body, but why is it so necessary?
What Does Protein Do to the Body?
Protein is essential for a lot of the body’s key functions. Alongside fats and carbohydrates, it is one of the main macros needed for your body to develop / grow.
The creation and healing of our bones, blood, muscles, skin and more all depend on the proteins in our diets in order to take place.
A good way of summarising what protein does to the body is by saying it builds the body. Your body is built out of proteins that you have taken in through your diet.
So when people say “You are what you eat.” They’re probably referring to the proteins in your diet, in which case, it’s true!
Is Protein Important When You’re Training?
From what we already know about protein, it’s safe to say it’s important, period.
However, the role of the proteins within your body becomes even more vital.
Why is Protein So Important When Training?
The reason for this great importance is recovery.
When we train, we damage our muscle fibers, this is what allows them to grow larger. When we damage these fibers, the body uses protein to heal them and help them to grow.
So, for building muscle protein is 100% essential, as muscles are built from protein.
However, there are other benefits of saturating your body with protein during periods of training. The main benefit being that you recover from sessions much quicker, allowing you to go harder each time and be ready for the next session sooner.
What are Some Good Sources of Dietary Protein?
Luckily, when it comes to good options, we’re pretty spoilt for choice.
Here are a few top picks for healthy, protein-rich foods:
- Chicken Breast – Chicken and poultry in general are great sources of protein. Chicken breast in particular is great because of how lean the meat is and how easy and adaptable it is as an ingredient.
- Beans – Beans are naturally super-high in natural proteins and fats, which make them a great recovery food
- Eggs – Probably thanks to the famous “egg scene” in Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky”, eggs are probably one of the most used examples of foods rich in proteins. As with chicken breast, eggs had to be included for their ease of use and versatility with meals.
Get in Touch With Steven Vince for Dietary and Fitness Training in West Midlands, UK
If you’re in the West Midlands region of the UK and are looking for personal training services, whether for dietary and nutrition purposes, stamina training, strength training or any of my personal training services, I’m always happy to discuss your goals with you.
You can get in touch via phone, or by using the contact form on my contact page.