What is Protein?

The importance of protein in your fat loss diet cannot be understated. Of course, you may be asking, "What is protein"?. Let's answer that and look at some of the top protein rich foods.

Protein is essential to your fat loss program for two reasons. Protein represents the body’s building block for muscle growth and repair, and it also is a food that increases metabolism.

But not just any protein will do. Only lean animal based protein, has all the essential amino acids necessary for muscle growth in one small efficient little package.

The Importance of Protein Rich Foods

Here is why:

• Protein is the raw construction material used for building skin, hair, nails, bones and muscle. More muscle means you burn more calories at rest. You raise your BMR.


• For new muscle tissue to be built you need to have nitrogen in the body. Protein keeps you in a positive nitrogen balance. Without it you are losing muscle and storing body fat.


• Eating lean animal based proteins ensures you will get all the aminio acids needed to produce the needed various hormones that are essential for muscle growth and fat loss.


• The thermic effect of food. Protein is harder to digest. Your body works harder to digest protein rich foods, expending more calories- i.e. raising your metabolism.

Healthy Protein Foods
Protein Rich Foods

You should be eating a small mean every 2 to 3 hours. This will ensure that you are getting nutrients, protein and carbohydrates on a regular basis.

By eating regularly blood sugar levels are stable, you will be speeding up your metabolism, and you stay in a positive nitrogen balance.

Here are your healthy protein foods and complete lean protein sources:

• chicken breast- the real thing, not processed lunch meats


• turkey breast- the real thing, not processed lunch meats


• fish and shellfish- fresh. If using canned fish beware of high sodium levels


• egg whites


• lean red meats

You now understand the basics of "what is protein", and why you must include protein rich foods with each meal. Your fat loss program depends on it.