Author: Maria Del Mar 

via Organic Connect Mag (http://organicconnectmag.com)

There are many common misconceptions of what protein is and why it’s so important for us. Protein is a macronutrient, which is a nutrient that’s needed in large quantities by the body. It plays an important role in weight loss, weight maintenance, satiety, and energy efficiency. Amino acids are the basic constituents of protein. The body produces most of them except for nine, which are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. These nine essentials need to be consumed from a dietary source in order for the body to function properly. Getting the daily recommendations for these essentials shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you’re pursuing a vegetarian diet, it’s important to keep in mind that vegetables won’t always have a full serving of protein. It’s good to combine a variety of foods, such as vegetables, nuts and grains, in order to get all the protein you need to stay healthy.

The serving for protein is the same for any type of meat, fish or poultry, regardless of fat content. However, many people who are looking to fit some extra grams of protein, limit themselves to only red meat when preparing a diet regimen. This isn’t always a good thing because even if it is a great source of protein, in many cases we tend to overlook the consequence that comes along with it. Even though you might get 40g in just one serving, it’s most likely to have high fat content, saturated fat to be exact, and cholesterol. Not saying you have to erase red meats from your everyday meals, but instead, incorporate different sources of protein like leaner cuts of meat, fish, poultry, dairy, nuts, seeds, beans and peas. These have an amazing effect on health and are probably less harmful to your body because not only does it bring less fat, they also come along with more fiber, vitamins and minerals.

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