In 1 of my recent posts I said that I was going to start writing more practical articles which should be a lot more useful for visitors to this website. After looking through my website stats last night I noticed that 1 of my most popular articles is on protein deficiency. Based on this I have decided to do a follow up article and provide you with 3 simple steps for avoiding protein deficiency.
1) HAVE PROTEIN WITH YOUR BREAKFAST
Most people’s breakfasts contain very little protein. They normally eat carbohydrate heavy foods such as cereal or toast and avoid the protein. If this sounds like you then try adding some protein to your breakfast.
Incorporating protein into your morning routine really isn’t that difficult. Try having eggs for breakfast a few times each week (omelettes are 1 of my personal favourites) or mix some protein powder in with your oatmeal. Doing this will add a bit more variety to your breakfast and also help increase your protein intake for the day.
2) SNACK ON NUTS
If you are feeling a little peckish at work you probably head to the vending machine and grab a chocolate bar or a bag of crisps. If you are trying to be healthy you may even bring some fruit with you to work. Whilst fruit is nutritionally much better than chocolate or crisps, all 3 of these snacks are lacking in protein. So if you want to avoid protein deficiency try snacking on nuts instead.
Nuts are still a nutritious snack and contain an excellent mix of dietary fibre, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. However, they also contain high levels of protein. For example, a 100 gram (g) serving of almonds contains a whopping 23.4g of protein whilst a 100g portion of Brazil nuts provides you with a notable 15.5g of protein.
3) START EATING SOYBEANS
Vegetables are a fantastic food that you should be eating daily. They provide your body with most of the essential nutrients it needs to survive plus a wide range of non-essential nutrients that boost your overall health. However, when it comes to protein content most vegetables fall short. 1 of the best ways to remedy this is to start incorporating soybeans into your diet.
Soybeans are highly nutritious and also contain an impressive 16.6g of protein per 100g. When eating soybeans make sure you go for the fresh, natural variety and avoid highly processed soy based meat substitutes. There are a number of health concerns associated with highly processed soy products and like with many foods, natural is always the best.
SUMMARY
Protein deficiency is extremely rare and hopefully something you never experience. If you make sure at least 15% of your daily calories come from protein then you should be able to avoid protein deficiency. However, if you feel you have become deficient in protein then use these simple steps to up your intake and get back on track.
Now I want to hear your thoughts. Are there any other tips you have to help people avoid protein deficiency? Have you ever suffered from protein deficiency yourself? Let me know by leaving a comment.