The importance of having proper amounts of protein and vegetables
Diet and nutrition is a huge topic and many people have different opinions about what constitutes a healthy diet. Some think carb-heavy, low-fat diets are better, whereas others consider high fat and protein diets to be the way to go.
One thing that most would agree on, though, is that you should include some protein and vegetables. Do you know why, though?
Understanding that may help motivate you to eat a better and more balanced diet, including healthy lean proteins and vegetables. That’s what we are going to discuss in the following post.
Why you Should Eat More Protein
First, let’s look at the benefits of including the proper amount of protein in your diet. While many debate about carbs and fats as we stated at the outset, one thing that most people agree on is the inclusion of protein for a healthy diet.
Reduces Hunger and Appetite
The main three macronutrients, that is protein, carbs, and fats, have different effects on your body. Protein is the most filling of them and gives you a satisfied feeling with less food than the other two. Which is because it reduces ghrelin levels. Ghrelin is the hunger hormone. While boosting peptide YY to make you feel full.
Increases Fat Burning and Increases Your Metabolism
You can increase your metabolism for at least a short amount of time, by eating. This is down to the fact your body needs to use calories as energy to digest foods and use the nutrients they provide. This is known as the TEF or Thermic Effect of Food. Crucially, though, not all foods work as well at this. Protein, for instance, has a much higher TEF than carbs or fat. So, when you include the right protein in your diet, you can increase your metabolism and the number of calories you burn.
Increase Muscle Mass and Strength
This is perhaps the most obvious benefit of including protein in your diet. It is, after all, the building blocks of muscles. When you eat the right amount of protein, you can build your muscles up and maintain their mass, making any weight and strength training you do more effective.
Why You Should Eat More Vegetables
You’ve probably heard the “five a day” rule. That is more of a minimum than an exact maximum amount you should try to eat in a day. But, why are vegetables so important?
They are an excellent source of important minerals and vitamins, like potassium, vitamin C, and folate
They are a superb source of fiber which can contribute to good gut health and prevent digestion issues such as constipation.
They can lower your risk of suffering from certain cancers, as well as strokes and heart disease.
One of the biggest benefits is that they tend to be low in calories and fat, particularly if you don’t use a lot of oil to roast or fry them. It is best to diversify the types you have to ensure you get the best mix of minerals.