As you pursue a medical weight loss plan, you will learn about the importance of protein in your diet. Protein serves a number of purposes in the body, such as:
- helping to build and repair muscle tissue
- making enzymes and hormones that regulate metabolism
- preventing spikes and crashes in blood sugar
- helping you to feel more full in between meals, preventing cravings
Clearly, protein is important to your eating plan, and you will need to take care in order to consume your target number of grams each day. But is all protein created equal? Well, not really.
A good protein source will contain other important nutrients like healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. So you should also consider your protein sources in order to create the most well-rounded and healthy eating plan possible.
Quality proteins do come from both plant and animal sources. Some of the best sources of protein include:
- Eggs
- Greek yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Chicken
- Salmon
- Grass-fed beef
- Tofu
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Almonds
The above are certainly not the only sources of protein, but they are often considered some of the most nutritious. As you can see, several of them make for great snacks, so you don’t have to worry about carrying around a steak in your car or purse! Yogurt, cottage cheese, almonds and so on can be purchased in simple, pre-portioned containers for easy snacking at work or on the go.
If you’re pursuing a vegan diet, we should talk more in depth about balancing your eating plan around your ethical standards. A vegan diet can contain plenty of protein and other nutrients, but supplementation may sometimes be necessary for healthiest results (especially regarding vitamin B12).
As for your protein requirements overall, we definitely recommend setting an appointment to discuss your weight loss plan and goals. We can help you decide how much protein is adequate for your body type, and offer other supports to help you stay on track.
