Why does my body need protein?
Protein is extremely important to our bodies and crucial to our overall health and function; every task our body performs is dependent upon protein. From unstable blood sugar to mood swings, protein is an important part of our nutrition that many people don’t give enough thought to. Protein has many roles in our bodies including neurotransmitter production, immune system, growth, repair, creation of new cells, energy, and satiety.
The chemicals our brain sends throughout the nervous system greatly rely on our protein intake. Our brain metabolizes protein using amino acids to help control our muscles, brain function, memory, and learning ability. A low-protein diet will lead to a lack of neurotransmission in our brains. This presents itself as difficulty focusing and behavioural abnormalities.
Our immune system depends on proteins to create antibodies which lay the foundation of what we need to protect our bodies from illness. When a person is deficient in protein, their amino acids will be unbalanced and their immune defense will suffer, which in turn makes the person more vulnerable to illness and disease.
After water, protein is the most abundant compound in the human body. This is because protein is responsible for creating the structure of our body including generating and growing cells, and repairing bones, muscles, organs, skin, and hair. Protein intake is also important for our energy levels. When protein intake is sufficient, energy levels will naturally increase. A protein deficiency over time will result in decreased muscle mass leading to lowered strength, slower metabolism, and anemia.
The feeling of fullness and satisfaction after a meal is in part thanks to protein – it is the primary macronutrient capable of making you feel satiated. Ensuring you have consumed enough protein will help you to avoid eating unnecessary snacks and unhealthy foods in between meals that can affect your overall digestion and energy levels
There are many ways to ensure you’re eating enough protein, the easiest of which is to include complete proteins in your diet. Animal sources (such as chicken, beef, seafood, dairy, and eggs) are complete proteins and also include the 9 essential amino acids required to synthesize protein. As simple as this is, it's important to note that animal sources do not include non-essential amino acids. Complete proteins that are plant-based include chia seeds, quinoa, hemp, and pumpkin seeds – and we love to make them delicious!
Pairing different food groups to supplement missing amino acids is a great way to create complete proteins and you will find this in all of our dishes! Brown and black rice, beans, and hemp are some of our fan favourites because we do them right! We want to ensure our Meels provide a full amino acid profile by offering you animal and plant-based proteins like oatmeal, chia seeds, chickpeas, vegetables, and grains every meal of the day.