Everyone knows that a diet high in protein has a wide range of amazing health benefits, but do you really know why is it so important? Well, you may not know that your muscles, organs, tissues, and hormones are actually made of protein, which is exactly why it plays a huge role in our nutrition. The protein found in foods we eat helps your body to function, develop, and grow properly, which is what makes a lot of people claim that there’s nothing more important than eating foods rich in it and leaving out the fast foods and other unhealthy intakes. Just stay with us and keep on reading if you want to learn more about the importance and benefits of a regular protein intake in our nutrition. Here are most important facts about it, so check them out!

What are the main health benefits of protein-rich diet?

As already stated, there are numerous benefits of a protein-rich diet, and here are some of the most important ones:

· It speeds up the muscle-building process

As our muscles are made of protein, the fact that eating foods rich in protein will speed up your muscle-building process seems quite logical, right? Well, eating enough protein will certainly help you build healthy muscle mass, and it’s particularly important if you’re a bodybuilder who works out on a daily basis. In case you didn’t know, the protein fibers your muscles are made of tends to get damaged and broken down when you work out, which is why you need to allow them to recover properly after your training session is done. Eating protein both before and after exercise is essential, so be sure not to skip it under any circumstances.

· It can help you maintain a healthy weight

Another important benefit of protein-rich diet is maintaining your healthy weight or helping you lose weight fast, as it can make you feel full and therefore prevent overeating. When compared to carbohydrates, we can say that it’s often much easier to overeat the carbs – especially when they’re sweetened or refined – than it’s to overeat protein foods that are naturally much healthier. Besides that, consuming foods rich in protein also create thermogenesis in your body, which is a process that requires your body to expend more energy (calories) on digesting food, which results in weight loss only, and not in muscle loss.

· It protects your heart and prevents heart-related problems

It seems that foods rich in protein are also great when it comes to protecting your heart and preventing various heart-related problems, which is why you should consider incorporating it into your diet. In fact, some experts claim that switching from carbohydrate foods to protein ones can lower your LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) and triglyceride levels, which is crucial for balancing your blood sugar and keeping heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes at bay. Apart from that, protein-rich diet is said to be a natural remedy for high blood pressure as well, so don’t wait any longer and switch to it as soon as possible.

What are top protein foods you should include in your diet?

Here are some top protein foods you should definitely incorporate into your diet, so check them out:

· Organic chicken (21 grams of protein per 85 grams of chicken)

Chicken breasts are probably one of the best natural protein sources out there, as only one chicken breast offers over 30% of your recommended daily intake of protein. This is exactly what makes organic chicken a fabulous high-protein food option you should definitely go for on a daily basis, as it’s a highly versatile meal that can be added to any lunch or dinner recipe. Apart from protein, chicken is also rich in vitamin B6, which can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and LDL cholesterol levels, too. However, you don’t have to worry if you’re a vegan, as there are still ways to get enough protein without having to eat meat. There are quality vegan protein supplements available on the market these days, so make sure you get these and you won’t have problems with your recommended daily intake of protein.

· Lentils (18 grams of protein per 1 cup)

On the other hand, lentils are a fantastic choice for everyone – vegetarians, vegans, and non-vegans – who want to get enough protein in their diets. Aside from protein, lentils are also rich in folic acid, fiber, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, and B vitamins, which all make these legumes more than desirable in anyone’s diet. The protein in lentils can improve your digestion and overall cardiovascular health, while regulating your blood sugar levels and balancing your body’s pH level at the same time, so introduce them to your everyday meals and enjoy their benefits.

· Eggs (7 grams of protein per 1 large egg)

Did you know that there are nine essential amino acids in the world we can get from our food and that eggs contain each one of them? We bet you didn’t! Well, eggs really are highly beneficial for your overall well-being, as they can speed up your weight loss process, boost your heart health, and improve your skin health in general. Similarly to chicken, eggs also contain vitamin B6 which is essential when it comes to protein absorption since it helps the enzymes break down the protein and carries amino acids straight into the blood. Just be sure to pick free-range eggs instead of those from caged hens, as these contain more vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, and less cholesterol.

As you can see, regular protein intake indeed plays a huge role in your nutrition simply because it can keep your healthy by lowering the LDL cholesterol levels and your blood pressure, while helping you lose weight and build muscle at the same time. All you have to do is to introduce foods like organic chicken, lentils, and eggs to your everyday diet, and you’ll see amazing results in no time!