10 Reasons Why Eating More Animal-Based Protein(🥩🍗🐟) Is the Key to Your Health
Most of us are not consuming as much protein as our bodies require to function properly and it’s causing a ripple effect of poor health throughout our society. When we don’t prioritize protein intake, we tend to overeat carbohydrates and this can lead to weight gain.
The recommended amount of protein varies depending on sex, age, activity level, and several other factors, but the general rule for everyone is to eat one gram of protein for every pound of your goal weight. For example, if your goal weight is two hundred pounds, you should be eating two hundred grams of protein per day. You can learn perscicly how much protein you need to hit your goals by reading my post, How to Accurately Calculate Your Macronutrient Requirements.
Animal-based protein is hands down the best source of protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids, is nutrient-rich, and is bioavailable. Its unique benefits outweigh those of plant-based protein by far. It would be very hard for someone to get enough whole protein from only eating a vegan diet of whole foods.
Eating more beef, lamb, chicken, fish, and eggs can help you lose body fat or gain lean muscle. Whatever your health goals are, you will benefit by eating more meat. I know the majority of people think meat is bad for you but it is not. The smear campain against red meat in particular is soly due to the fact that you can’t patent beef and make billions of dollars from it like you can with ultra processed food products like junk food and fake meats.
The ten reasons why you should consume more animal-based proteins are:
1. Superior Nutrient Profile
2. Bioavalability
3. Improved Metabolism
4. Appetite Control
5. Bone Health
6. Enhanced Immune Function
7. Essential Fats
8. Superior Brain Function
9. Skin, Hair, and Nail Health
10. Recovery and Injury Prevention
1. Superior Nutrient Profile
Animal-based proteins contain iron, zinc and vitamin B12 in large amounts and all nine essential amino acids , making it a whole protein. Our bodies cannot produce them on their own and they are critical for various bodily functions, including tissue repair, hormone production, and immune response.
2. Bioavalability
Animal proteins are often easier for the body to break down and absorb compared to some plant proteins, which might contain ant nutrients like phytic acid and lectins that can inhibit nutrient absorption. The iron, zinc and vitamin B12 are all in forms that our bodies can absorb more esaly then from plant foods as well. Our bodies need protein and fat to function and the best place to get them are from other animals.
3. Improved Metabolism
Protein boosts metabolic rate by increasing the body’s energy expenditure during digestion and absorption this is know as the thermic effect. Digesting protein requires more energy to process compared to carbohydrates, which helps to raise the overall metabolic rate and burn more calories. Meat dose not contain a lot of starch with will keep insulin levels form spiking and will help you have more even levels of energy through the day.
4. Appetite Control
Satiety signals are hormonal and neural responses that tell the brain when the body is full. Protein plays a crucial role in triggering these signals, particularly through hormones like peptide YY and GLP-1, which help to increase feelings of fullness and satisfaction after meals. Ozempic and other drugs try to mimic what eating meat does naturally, but with negative side effects. These new drugs make you lose mostly muscle, and I highly recommend you only use them for a short period of time period, if at all.
5. Bone Health
Beef and other ruminants are rich in essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus, which are crucial for maintaining and improving bone density. Calcium strengthens bone structure, vitamin D enhances calcium absorption, and phosphorus works with the calcium to build strong bones. Research has shown that diets high in animal protein are associated with increased bone mineral density and a reduced risk of fractures.
6. Enhanced Immune Function
Whole proteins are crucial for the immune system as they provide the building blocks for antibodies and immune cells. Adequate protein intake ensures the body can produce these essential components to effectively fight off infections and illnesses. As a side effect of eating more meat, you will eat less ultra-processed food products, these products are horrible for your gut microbiome witch is a huge part of your immune system.
7. Essential Fats
It’s not all just about the protein, the fats in meat is vital for many functions in the body and plants just don’t have enough or the right kinds. Essential fats, also known as essential fatty acids are found in meat and they include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Dietary cholesterol is another example, plants don’t make it and you need it to synthesize vitamin D, to make bile to digest food, for cell membrane structure and hormone production.
8. Superior Brain Function
Animal proteins contribute significantly to cognitive health by providing essential nutrients that support brain function and development. Consuming adequate amounts of animal protein helps maintain mental clarity, focus, and overall cognitive performance. Studies have shown that individuals who consume higher amounts of protein, particularly from animal sources, tend to have better memory, faster processing speeds, and a reduced risk of cognitive decline as they age. This underscores the importance of animal protein in maintaining brain health and cognitive function throughout life.
9. Skin, Hair, and Nail Health
Animal-based proteins are rich in collagen and keratin, two key proteins for skin health. Collagen, found in bones and connective tissues, helps maintain skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles. Keratin, found in meats and dairy, strengthens skin, hair, and nails, contributing to a youthful appearance.
10. Recovery and Injury Prevention
Adequate protein intake helps reduce muscle soreness, rebuilds damaged tissues, and supports overall recovery processes, allowing for quicker returns to physical activities. It can also help prevent injuries for active individuals by helping to maintaine muscle mass and strength, improving joint health, and supporting overall physical resilience. A protein-rich diet ensures that the body has the necessary nutrients to withstand the stresses of regular physical activity and recover effectively, reducing the risk of overuse injuries and muscle strains.
Conclusion
Eating more animal protien is not the only factor to avaoiding injery and disease, you’ll need to move your body and maintain a positive mindset too, but if your deficent in whole protiens it makes everything that much harder.
Check out this cheat sheet to get an idea of how much of these foods you need to consume to get fifty grams of protein:
