Why does your body need protein? Protein is our body's building blocks. Protein is a nutrient, just like carbohydrates and fat. Protein provides calories and amino acids. Amino acids in protein strengthen and repair body cells. To live a healthy life, it is important to get enough protein.
Protein is essential for the production of muscle tissue. Therefore, especially athletes who train a lot and heavily need more protein. If the body does not get enough protein from food, it will start using protein from muscle to make up for the shortage at the expense of muscle mass. So you can train all you want, but if you don't get enough protein, your muscle strength and mass will not increase.
Types of Protein
There are different types of protein. For example, a distinction is made between high-quality and less high-quality. When we talk about high-quality proteins, we are talking about proteins with a high-quality protein content that is excellent for the body to absorb.
Protein sources
Protein can be found in both animal and plant products. Animal products include meat, fish, dairy and eggs.
Plant products include nuts, legumes, mushrooms, green vegetables, grains, avocado, seeds and kernels.
Animal products contain more essential amino acids than plant products. Therefore, you will have to eat proportionally more plant-based foods to get the same amount of protein. Animal products are less sustainable to produce.
Protein-rich foods
Which foods are high in protein?
- Fish: salmon, tuna, cod, mackerel, pollock, flounder & seafood
- Poultry: chicken, turkey & duck (+ eggs!)
- Meats: steak, roast beef, tartare, smoked beef, & liver
- Nuts: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios & cashews
- Beans: soybeans, lentils, aduki beans, chickpeas, capuchins, broad beans & peanuts
- Dairy: cottage cheese & yogurt, whey protein shakes
Protein shakes
Drinking a protein shake is an easy way to get the necessary nutrients that supports the body with muscle growth and recovery without taking in a lot of extra calories.
Be aware, however, that there are many different (whey) protein products on the market. However, not all of them are equally good for your body and are full of GMOs, flavors, dyes, refined sugars and other substances that do not belong in a healthy and balanced diet.
Ekopura's whey and vegan protein, however, is free of artificial and unnecessary additives, is made with 100% organic whey or plant-based alternatives and contains only natural ingredients of the very highest quality.
Want to know more about our products? Then click here.
