Do you know the benefits of protein? Protein is an important nutrient for sustaining peak physical performance. If you’re a serious competitor, a weekend warrior, or just trying to get more involved, your protein intake is critical to your physical health.
There are several aspects of high-quality protein that can help you in ways you might not have considered! To learn more about how great protein is for you and how to incorporate the right amount of your body type into your diet, call our clinic in town today.
What is high quality protein?
High-quality protein is measured by its biological value, as well as its digestible value. It is also referred to as “complete protein.”
These terms are defined as follows:
- Complete protein: A complete protein contains all the necessary amino acids for a nutritional protein-based meal. These amino acids act as the “building blocks” that form the protein.
- Biological value: Also known as BV, biological value describes the level of quality that a protein offers. Proteins with high BV contain the amino acids your body needs to function properly.
- Digestible value: This refers to your body’s ability to break down food and use it as energy. This all determines how “digestible” it is. Some examples of digestible proteins include lean meat and cooked eggs.
Why protein is an important part of your diet
A protein-rich diet is important for muscle growth. Eating the right protein after a strenuous workout will aid in the repair of muscle fiber damage.
It is important to eat a healthy portion of protein, whether it is obtained from animal products, vegetable products, or plant products. This will assist you in maintaining a good balance of muscle strength and maintaining a healthy weight.
According to Healthline, “People who eat more protein tend to maintain bone mass better as they age and have a much lower risk of osteoporosis and fractures. This is especially important for women, who are at high risk of osteoporosis after menopause. Eating plenty of protein and staying active is a good way to help prevent that from happening.”
How to begin adding more high-quality proteins to your diet
There are some full proteins available that have the desired amounts of amino acids, biological value, and digestibility. These are the different types of proteins that your physical therapist will suggest to you in order to provide nutrients and develop healthy muscle.
Our list of complete proteins include:
- Meat: Many animal products are considered high-quality proteins, including dairy products, red meat, and poultry.
- Fish: Fish are considered lean, high-quality proteins, including, tuna, salmon, whitefish, and halibut.
- Eggs: An egg typically contains 6 or 7 grams of protein, making it high-quality.
- Quinoa: Quinoa includes 9 essential amino acids, making this plant-based product a high-quality protein.
- Soy: While most vegetable-based products are not considered complete and high-quality proteins, soy is one of the only ones that is.
Let our physical therapist help you
We get it: it might be a little intimidating to start incorporating more protein into your diet, especially if you’re going to be including a physical therapy treatment plan in your daily routine as well. No worries! That’s where we come in.
At our practice, a physical trainer will assist you if you want to enhance your physical fitness by eating healthy. They are aware of the various high-quality proteins which might assist you in reducing muscle loss and building lean muscle.
Following your appointment, your therapist will perform a physical assessment to assess your current level of health and how to help you progress. They will also consider your current level of physical activity, diet, and any injuries you might have.
Your physical therapist will give you dietary advice to help you achieve your goals and make the most of your physical therapy care program. Improving your diet, in conjunction with working with a skilled physical therapist, will help you improve your stamina, endurance, and overall performance.
Consulting with a physical therapist will help you strengthen your physical condition, heal from injuries faster, and avoid injuries in the future. Call our office today to make an appointment with one of our professional physical therapists! With a detailed physical therapy program designed specifically for you, you can get back in the game and perform at your best.
