Contents
Protein
✨ AIThe body's building material: for muscle, enzymes, and repair. About 4 kcal per gram.
Protein is found throughout the body (in muscle, bone, skin, and hair) and forms the enzymes and carriers that keep you running. It's built from about twenty amino acids; nine are "essential," meaning they must come from food because your body can't make them.
What is Protein?
Protein is found throughout the body (in muscle, bone, skin, and hair) and forms the enzymes and carriers that keep you running. It's built from about twenty amino acids; nine are "essential," meaning they must come from food because your body can't make them.
Why Protein matters
The baseline recommendation is about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day (roughly 50 g for a 140-lb person). People who train hard, are older, or are losing weight often benefit from more, spread across meals.
Best sources of Protein
- Chicken & turkey
- Fish & seafood
- Eggs
- Greek yogurt
- Lentils & beans
- Tofu & tempeh
Practical tips
The "package" matters: choose fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, beans, lentils, nuts, and soy over heavily processed or red meat, which brings more saturated fat.
References
FAQ
What is Protein?
The body's building material: for muscle, enzymes, and repair. About 4 kcal per gram.
Why is Protein important?
The baseline recommendation is about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day (roughly 50 g for a 140-lb person). People who train hard, are older, or are losing weight often benefit from more, spread across meals.
What are the best food sources of Protein?
Chicken & turkey, Fish & seafood, Eggs, Greek yogurt, Lentils & beans, Tofu & tempeh.
Any practical tips?
The "package" matters: choose fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, beans, lentils, nuts, and soy over heavily processed or red meat, which brings more saturated fat.
