healthy eating, exercise and protein shakes what every woman needs to know

Healthy Eating, Exercise and Protein Shakes What Every Woman Needs to Know

Protein shakes are often associated with men & big bulging muscles gulping them down after a training session so they can bulk up even more. But actually, women need protein too, and if you're an especially active one, on a healthy eating plan, chances are you need a fair amount of the stuff.

PROTEIN: STABILIZES YOUR ENERGY LEVELS AND APPETITE

If you're trying to lose weight and are constantly ravenous throughout the day, it could be you're probably not eating enough protein at each meal. Compared to carbohydrates, protein takes longer to break down and digest. This slow digestion time means you'll stay fuller longer and keep hunger at bay, making it easier to keep within your daily calorie limit if you're on a calorie controlled diet. If your exercising then protein shakes are handy as you can grab one after a tough cardio or weights session to get the protein to your muscles quickly, and you can carry it in your bag until you need it.

Did you Know - Protein helps to burn fat!

Protein can help to burn fat as it has the highest thermic effect of food (TEF), which is the amount of calories it takes your body to process and utilize a nutrient. At 20-35 percent, protein has the highest TEF which means that your body actually uses 20-35 percent of the energy from protein consumed just to digest and absorb it!

Out of every 100 calories you get from protein, 25-30 are burned in the digestion process.

Since your body expends more energy to process proteins than it does to digest carbohydrates and fats, people who consume more protein throughout the day might see faster fat-loss results than people on a lower-protein diet plan.

PROTEIN: SAFEGUARDS AGAINST THE OF MUSCLE LOSS

If you're on an ultra-low calorie diet (under 1200cals per day) carbohydrates and fats become scarce and, there's a greater chance that your body will turn to incoming protein for energy. This leaves less protein for various bodily functions i.e. a lack of protein can lead to hair losing its shine and skin to become blotchy.

If insufficient amino acids are present, your body will start breaking down muscle tissue to get individual aminos. This could mean that you that you end up lighter but fatter if you're on a diet as the weight loss could be caused by a loss in muscle rather than fat leading to a slower resting metabolism. Protect against this by prioritizing protein!

Although things are changing there still are not than many protein shakes on the market for women, but there are a few. Our advice is that you make sure you opt for a high-quality one that tastes good and gives you plenty of servings per tub.

Clive Fearon BSc (Hons), Author, personal trainer, & Counselor

clive@onenationderby.co.uk